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MAINE 

AGRICULTURAL    EXPERIMENT   STATION 

ORONO,  MAINE. 

CHAS.  D.  WOODS,  Director 


-«a>^— «■■« 


POULTRY  DISEASES  AND  THEIR 
TREATMENT 


ORONO,    MAINE. 
February,  1911. 


;•'»-;■ 


M 


wiJCI 


4^> ' 


v398-12-10) 


MAINE 

AGRICULTURAL    EXPERIMENT    STATION 

ORONO,    MAINE. 


POULTRY  DISEASES  AND  THEIR 
TREATMENT 


Compiled  by 
Raymond  Pearl,  Frank  M.  Surface,  and  Maynie  R.  Curtis. 


OROXO,  -MAINE. 
February,  191  i. 


Copyright,  191  i 

BY 

Maine   AGRicn/ruRAr.   Expkriment    Station. 


•  r  * 


• '-  :  :  • 


4 


This  publication   is  mailed   free  to  residents  of   Maine. 
To  others  the   price   is  twenty-five  cents  per   copy. 


4-  't  O 


/ 


Tahle  of  Contknts. 


PAGE 

Introduction     ^ 

Chapter  I.      General    Considerations    Regarding   tlie    Treatment 

of  Poultry  Diseases   4 

Prevent  inn   l\atlier  tlian  Cure  the  Ideal 5 

Breeding   for   Health,   Y\gnr  and   Sound   Constitu- 
tion       6 

Chapter  II.    Poultry   Hygiene    9 

Poultry  House  Hygiene  and  Sanitation lO 

How  to  Clean  a  Poultry  House lo 

Disinfection     li 

Formaldehyde  Gas   Disinfection 12- 

Cresol   Disinfectant    12 

Fresh  Air  and  Light 14 

Avoid    Dampness    15 

Provide  Clean  and  Dry  Litter 15 

Hygienic  Feeding  15 

Avoid   Overfeeding    15 

Provide  Plenty  of  Green  Food 16 

Provide  Fresh  and  Clean  Drinking  Water  16 

The   Land    18 

Exercise    20 

External  Parasites   20 

Disposal  of  Dead  Birds 20 

Isolation  of  Sickness  21 

The  Essentials  of  Poultry  Hygiene 21 

Chapter  HI.     The  Diagnosis  of  the  Diseases  of  Poultry 22 

External  Symptoms   22 

Post-Mortem   Examinations    24 

How  to  Make  a  Post-mortem 25 

Chapter  IV.     Poultry  Materia  Medica   28 

The  Medicine  Chest    28 

An  Antiseptic  Ointment  30 

Tables  of  Apothecaries'  Weights  and  Meas- 
ures and  Their  Metric  Equivalents 31 

Chapter  V.      Diseases  of  the  Alimentary  Tract 32 

Diseases  of  the  Crop 32 

Impacted  Crop    (Crop  Bound) 32 

Inflammation   of   the   Crop 34 

Enlarged    Crop    36 

271249 


IV  I'()l■I.■l'K^   I)isi:asi:s  and  tiii:ir  treatment. 

PAGE 

Diseases  of  the  Stoinacli    (  Provcntriculus) . .  36 

Inllainmatioii  of  the  Stomach   (Gastritis)  36 

Diseases  of  the  Intestines 2i7 

Simple   I  )iarrliea    27 

Enteritis  (Dysentery)    39 

Constipation    41 

Indigestion     42 

Chapter  \'I.     Poisons     44 

Common  Salt,  Nitrate  of  Soda,  Lyes 44 

Arsenic    44 

Copper    44 

Lead  and  Zinc  45 

Phosphorus    45 

Stryclinine     45 

Ergot  of  Rye   45 

Treatment  for  Poisons  in  (General 46 

Chapter  VIL     Diseases  of  the   Liver 47 

Hypertrophy  or  Enlargement  of  the  I-yiver...  50 

Fatty  Degeneration    51 

Atrophy  or  Wasting  of  the  Liver 52 

Congestion  and  Inflammation  of  the  Liver...  52 

Jaundice    52 

Blackhead    (Infectious   Entero-Hepatitis) 53 

Cercomoniasis    55 

Sarcomatosis  and  Carcinomatosis  55 

Chapter  VIII.     Tuberculosis     57 

Etiology     58 

Diagnosis    59 

Methods  of  Contagion    63 

Treatment     64 

Chapter  IX.     Cholera     66 

Diagnosis    67 

Etiologj'     68 

Treatment     69 

Chapter  X.      Diseases  of  the  Abdominal  Cavity 72 

Peritonitis    7^ 

Abdominal  Dropsy  or  Ascites 73 

Chapter  XL     Internal  Parasites   75 

Diagnosis  of  Worms  in  General 75 

Tape  Worms    76 

Xodular  Tseniasis    "7 

Round    W  nrms    82 

Flukes     83 

Chapter  XII.     Diseases  of  the   Respiratory   System 85 

Anatomy   and   Physiology    85 

Catarrli     87 

Bronchitis   ( Croup  )    88 

Influenza    (Epizootic,  Grippe,   Distemper)....  89 


CONTEXTS. 


|)- 


Kuup    (^ Contagious    Catarrli.    Dipthcria,    Dij 

theritic  Roup,  Canker)    90 

"Pip"    (Intlammation   of  the   Moutli ) 102 

Canker    103 

Thrush    103 

Aspergillosis   (Mycosis  of  the  Air  Passages)  104 

Congestion  of  the  Lungs 107 

Pneumonia     108 

Tuberculosis    no 

The  Air-sac  Mite   no 

Chapter  XIII.     Diseases  of  the  Circulatory  System  and  IMood..  lu 
Pericarditis     (Inflammation    of    the     Pericar- 
dium, Dropsy  of  the  Heart  Sac) 112 

Endocarditis    (Inflammation    of   the    Internal 

Membranes  of  the  Heart) 112 

Myocarditis  dipthcritica    113 

Enlargement  of  the  Heart    (Hypertrophy)..  113 
Rupture  of  the  Pleart  and  Large  Blood  Ves- 
sels       113 

Diseases  of  the  Blood n4 

Infectious  Leukaemia   114 

Chapter  XIV.     Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System 1 18 

Apoplexy   (Hemorrhage  of  the  Brain) 118 

Heat    Prostration    n8 

Congestion   of  the   Brain    (Vertigo,   Cerebral 

Hyper?emia)     119 

Epilepsy    119 

Chapter  XV.      Diseases  of  the  Kidneys,  Rheumatism  and  Lim- 

berneck     121 

Gout    121 

Visceral    Gout    121 

Articular   Gout    121 

Other  Diseased  Conditions  of  the  Kidneys...  122 

Rheumatism    123 

Limberneck    123 

Chapter  XVI.     External    Parasites    1 24 

Keeping   a   Poultry    Plant   Free    from   Exter- 
nal   Parasites    1 24 

Lice    125 

How    to    Make    an    Effective    and    \'ery 

Cheap  Lice  Powder   130 

Mites    132 

Scaly   Leg    135 

Depluming    Scabies    142 

Other  Mites  Affecting   Poultry 144 

Other  External  Parasites  145 

Chapter  X\'II.    Diseases  of  the  Skin   147 

Favus    1 47 

White    Comb    130 


VI  POULTRY    DISICASKS   AND  THIJK    TKKATM  K  XT 


PAGE 


Chicken    Pox     (Snro    Head    dh    Epithelioma 

Coiitagiosum )     150 

Chapter  Will.    Diseases  of  the  RepnKluctive  Organs 155 

Anatomy  and  Physiology  155 

Diseases  of  the  Ovary 160 

Atrophy     160 

Gangrene  of  the  Ovary 163 

Ovarian  Tumors   *.  163 

Ahortion  of  Eggs  164 

Yolk  Hypertrophy    164 

Failure  of  Follicle  Wall  to  Rupture 165 

Diseases  of  the  Oviduct  165 

I  ntlanimation     165 

Prolapse  of  the  Oviduct 167 

Obstruction  of  the  Oviduct  (Egg  Bound)  169 

Rupture  of  the  Oviduct 173 

Gangrene  of  the   Oviduct 1 74 

Breaking  of  Egg  in  Oviduct 174 

Abnormal  Eggs   175 

Vent   Gleet    177 

"Break    Down"    179 

Diseases  of  the  Male  Reproductive  Organs..  180 

Chapter  XIX.     Diseases  of  Chickens   181 

White    Diarrhea    181 

Intestinal    Coccidiosis    183 

Bacillary  White  Diarrhea    186 

Diagnosis  of  White   Diarrliea  in   General  189 

Treatment     190 

Prevention     192 

Leg  Weakness   192 

Aspergillosis  or  Pneumomycosis   193 

Emphysema     194 

Gapes    195 

Chapter  XX.     Poultry    Surgery    201 

The  Treatment  of  Cuts,  Tears  and  All  Open 

Wounds    201 

Abscess    202 

Bumblefoot    202 

Broken   Bones    203 

Frozen   Combs  and   W'attles 203 

Anaesthetizing    Poultry    203 

Glossary  of  Technical   Terms 205 

Index    209 


List   of   Illustrations. 


rig- 

I. 

Fig. 

'y 

Fig. 

3- 

Fig. 

4- 

Fig. 

5- 

Fig. 

6. 

Fig. 

7- 

Fig. 

8. 

Fig. 

9 

Fig. 

10 

Fig. 

II 

Fig. 

12 

Fig. 

13 

Fig. 

14 

Fig.  15- 
Fig.  1 6. 
Fig.  17. 


Fig.  18. 


Showing  coiulitioii  of  liver  in  "blackliecul."     (Modified        PAGE 
after    Moore)     54 

Breast  bone  of  a  fowl   showing  excessive   emaciation 

in  tuberculosis.     (After  Ward)    60 

Liver     of     fowl     affected     witli     tuberculosis.     (After 

Ward)     61 

Spleen  from  tuberculous  fowl  cut  through  the  middle. 

(After  Koch  and  Rabinowitsch) 61 

Intestine  and  mesenteries  of  a  fowl  affected  with  tuber- 
culosis.    (After  Ward)    62 

Drepaitidotaeiiia  infundibuliformis,  a  tape  worm  of  the 

fowl.     (After   Stiles)    77 

Intestine  of  a  fowl  turned  wrong  side  out  to  show 
tape  worms  in  nodular  fcxniasis  (After  Pearson 
and  \\'arren )    7° 

Sketch  showing  method  of  introducing  turpentine  di- 
rectly into  crop.     (From  Gage  and  Opperman) 80 

Worms  protruding  from  a  section  of  the  intestine  of 

a  fowl.     (After  Bradshaw)    82 

Heterakis  pcrspicillum,     (From  Salmon)    83 

Trematode  worm  or  fluke  showing  internal   structure. 

(From   Thompson    after    Sommer) 84 

Lungs  of  a  bird.     After  Salmon) 85 

Right  lung  of  a  goose.     (After  Owen) 85 

A   lobule   of  the   lung  of   a  bird   represented   in    ideal 

longitudinal   section.     (After   Owen)    87 

Showing  appearance  of  hen  a  day  before  death  from 

roup.     (From  Harrison  and  Streit) 91 

Showing    swelling    of    head    in    severe    roup.     (From 

Harrison  and   Streit)    9~ 

Head  of  a  bird.  The  lower  figure  show^s  the  maxillo- 
ocular  sinus,  which  opens  into  the  socket  of  the  eye 
and  communicates  with  the  nasal  cavities.  The  up- 
per figure  shows  the  roup  tumor  on  the  head  caused 
by  the  filling  of  this  cavity  with  cheesy  pus.  (From 
Megnin)    93 

Head  of  a  fowl  22  days  after  inoculation  with  a  culture 

of  the  roup  bacillus.     (From  Harrison  and  Streit)  95 


Vlii  Kiri.TKV    DISKASKS   AM)   T  1 1  K  I  K    TKlvATMENT. 

Fig.   I').     Throat    ami    lidtlotii    of    mouth    with    false    membrane        pack 
[III)     14    (lays    after    inoculation.     (From    Harrison 

and   Streit )    95 

I'ig.  JO.     A  section  of  a  false  membrane  of  a  roupy  fowl.  (  From 

Harrison    and   Streit)    96 

Fig.   Ji.     Head   of   a   bird    witli    diphtheritic   roup   atTecting   tlie 

mouth  and   tongue.      (From  Megnin)    96 

Fig.  JJ.     .Is/^crc/illus     fuiiiiinUus.       (.reatly     enlarged.       (.\fter 

Mohler  and   P.uckley)    106 

Fig.  -'3.     CytoiUlcs    inuliis.     The    air    sac    mite,      (.\ftcr    Theo- 
bald)       no 

Fig.  _M.     The  common  hen  louse  {Meiiopon  pallidum ).     Greatly- 
enlarged.     (From   lianks)    126 

Fig.  25.     Lipi-urus  z'liriabilis.  A  louse  that  infests  poultry.  Much 

enlarged.     ( From  Banks  after  Denny)    127 

Fig.    26.     Goniodcs    dissiiiiilis.     A    louse    that    infests    poultry 

Much  enlarged.     (From  Banks  after  Denny) 127 

Fig.  27.     Feathers  showing  eggs   or  "nits"   of  the  common  hen 

louse.     Enlarged.     (Original)     128 

Fig.  28.     The  common  "red  mite"  of  poultry,  Dennaiiyssus  gal- 

niiic.     (.\fter    Osborn)     I33 

Fig.  29.     A.    Xormal  leg  of  hen.     B.    Leg  of  hen  affected  with 

scaly  leg.     (After  Megnin)    136 

Fig.  30.     Photograph  of  the  leg  of  a  hen  affected  with  scaly  leg. 

(  After  Haiduk  )    i37 

Fig.  31.     Photograpli  of  tlie  adult  female  of  the  mite  Knemido- 

coptcs   (Dcnuatorycics)    muians.     After  Haiduk)..  138 

Fig.  2i--     Photograph  of  the  six-legged  larvae  of  Kneinidocoptes 

(Dcnnatoryctes)    miitans   139 

Fig-  2i3-     Section  of  the  skin  of  the  leg  of  a  fowl  affected  with 

scaly  leg.     Enlarged.     (After   Haiduk)    140 

Fig.  34.     Egg  containing   female  Sarcoptcs   laciis  var.   gallinac. 

( Fn  mi    Theobald)     142 

Fig.  2S-    Syiiiplectoples      cysticola.       Connective      tissue      mite. 

(After   Theobald)    144 

Fig.  36.     "Harvest  bug,"  Tetranychns  (Leptus)  aiitumitalis,  lar- 
val  form.     (After  Murray )    145 

Fig.  S7-     Head   and   neck   of   a    fowl   affected    witli    generalized 

favus.     (.After    Pearson)     147 

Fig.  38.     The   fungus  Achorioii  sclioiilcinii  which  causes   favus 

in   poultry    148 

Fig.  39.     Sore-head  crusts  on  comb,  eye-lids  and  skin.     (After 

Cary)     151 

Fig.  40.     The  reproductive  or  egg-producing  organs  of  a  lien. 

(After   Duval)    156 

Fig.  41.     Showing  shapes  of  abnormal   eggs   sometimes    found. 

(From  von   Durski  after  Landois)    161 

Fig.  42.     Triple  yolked   egg.     (Original)    176 


MST   ok    ILIvUSTRATlbirs.      '    '  ix 

,■         ^        '      ■   •    .       ■  .     '  '''•" 

P^S-  43     Showhig  ^hapes   of  abnormal.  .e.ggs   sometimes    found.        page 

(From  von,  Durskr  af-tef.  Lando,is)    .  . .  .'.V 178 

Fig.  44.     Diagramnuuic   reprcsciltatioir  (if;  the   life   history    of  a 

Coccidimi).      (Aftei-  Cole  and   1  ladley)    184 

Fig.  45.     Ten^day  White  Leghot'n' chick'^  ;[ijiowing  sj'mptoms  of 

baciHary      white      di'irrhea..     (After      Rettger      and 

,      ^    Stonehuni  )••••••••••■•  <i  •■•• -, '•  •  ■ 189 

Fig.  46.  Normal  ten-day  White 'l,dghorn  chicks.  (After  Rett- 
ger and  Stonebufh)   ■.  .  .-. 189 

Fig.  47.  Trachea  (windpipe)  'of  -a  .'pheasant,  'showing  gape 
worms  iSyngf.iinifs  tnn-licalis)  attached  to  the  mu- 
cous membrane.      ( Aftci^  Mcgnin)    '.  ". 196 

Fig.  48.     .\  pair  of  Sviiiianius  trachcaH^  attached.    (After  Meg- 

nm)      :'. 190 

Pig.  49.     A  pair  of  Syngamus  tnichcalis   (After   Megnin)    ....  197 

(x\fter    Megnin)     197 


poui/nn  DISEASES  and  tiiktr  treatment. 


Introduction. 

It  is  probably  safe  to  say  that  considerably  more  than  50  per 
cent  of  the  correspondence  of  those  engaged  in  poultry  work  in 
the  agricultural  colleges  and  experiment  stations  in  this  country 
relates  to  poultry  diseases.  The  poultryman  or  farmer  sees 
that  some,  or  perhaps  all,  of  his  birds  are  ill,  and  he  straightway 
writes  to  the  nearest  college  or  station  to  know  what  the  dis- 
ease is,  and  what  to  do  for  it.  The  Maine  Station  has  for  many 
years  been  the  recipient  of  a  great  number  of  such  inquiries.  It 
is  an  vmfortunate,  but  in  the  nature  of  the  case  an  unavoidable 
fact,  that  in  many  instances  it  is  quite  impossible  to  make  any 
really  satisfactory  reply  to  these  inquiries.  In  the  vast  major- 
ity of  cases  the  person  who  writes  the  letter  is  quite  untrained  in 
pathology  and  either  describes  no  symptoms  at  all  or  only  those 
very  general  ones  which  are  common  to  nearly  all  the  ills  of 
poultry.  To  one  who  has  not  handled  this  class  of  correspond- 
ence it  would  seem  almost  incredible  that  there  should  be  so 
many  letters  of  the  following  type :  "I  have  lost  about  a  third 
of  my  chickens  in  the  last  few  days.  They  seem  a  little  dump- 
ish for  a  while  and  then  die.  What  is  the  trouble  and  what 
shall  I  do  for  it?"  To  diagnose  and  prescribe  on  such  a  basis 
of  information  is  impossible.  Yet  the  hard  fact  remains  that 
the  correspondent's  chickens  zvere  ill  and  did  die.  an.l  he  )iccds 
help  to  get  out  of  the  trouble. 

To  meet  this  need  so  far  as  possible,  and  in  response  to  a 
definite  request  on  the  part  of  the  organized  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  the  State  the  present  work  has  been  prepared.  What 
it  aims  to  do  is  to  give  a  clear  and  reasonably  complete 
compilation  and  digest  of  the  information  now  existing  in  the 
literature  regarding  the  commoner  diseases  of  poultry,  their 
diagnosis,  etiology,  treatment  and  prognosis.  It  should  be  clear- 
ly understood  that  the  book  is  essentially  a  compilation.  The 
Maine  Station  has  never  conducted  any  special  investigations 
regarding  poultry  diseases,  and  docs  not  propose  to  in  the  inime- 


2  I'ol  I/rK\     Dl'JhASKS    AND    IllKIU    TKKAT  MKNT. 

(Hate  future  at  Ica.st.  Xo  i>ni'  ci  murclcd  with  the  StatidU  at  the 
present  time  has  any  expert,  lir>t  hand  knowledge  of  poultry 
patholoj^y.  This  hein^  the  case,  the  v^tation  assumes  nn  rcspon- 
sihility  fi»r  the  o<mtents  of  this  book  beyond  tliat  involved  in 
the  comi)ilaii'  'U  and  editing.  That  is  to  say-,  the  Station  does  not 
guarantee  that  any  of  the  remedies  or  treatments  herein  pro- 
posed will  eure  any  diseased  condition.  It  merely  ])Uts  l)efore 
the  ])ul)lir  what  ai)pears  to  be  the  best  and  most  reliable  infor- 
mation now  existing  regarding  these  matters.  If  this  informa- 
tion is  incomplete,  or  fails  in  the  attainment  of  the  desired  end, 
the  fault  lies  with  the  original  authority  not  with  the  compiler. 
Further  it  should  be  said  that  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  dis- 
cuss all  the  detailed  technical  accounts  of  the  scientific  study  of 
avian  ])athology,  appearing  in  technical  journals  in  this  country 
and  Europe,  and  the  work  is,  therefore,  not  complete  in  this 
sense.  This  material  is  ])riniarily  of  interest  only  to  the  pro- 
fessional student  of  ])athology.  This  book  is  not  written  for 
him  at  all,  but  for  the  practical  poultryman. 

Tt  is  not  intended  that  this  book  should  displace  any  of  the 
standard  works  on  diseases  in  the  poultryman's  library.  On 
the  contrary  it  is  intended  merely  to  supplement  these.  In  fact 
the  writers  \\uu\d  most  urgently  advise  that  every  poultry  keeper 
buy  either  one  or  both  of  the  following  books : 

"The  Common  Sense  Poultry  Doctor"  l)y  Jolui  II.  Robinson, 
Farm  Poultry  Publishing  Co.,  232  Summer  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 
Price  50c.  This  seems  to  the  writers  to  be,  on  the  whole,  the 
best  existing  book  on  diseases  for  the  practical  poultryman. 

"The  Diseases  of  Poultry."  By  Dr.  D.  E.  Salmon.  For  sale  by 
Schmid's  Bird  &  Pet  Stock  Emporium,  712  Twelfth  St.,  N.  W.. 
Washington,  D.  C.  Price  50c.  This  book  gives  a  more  thor- 
ough treatment  of  the  sul)ject,  l)ut  is  written  rather  more  from 
the  .standpoint  of  the  veterinary  practitioner  than  from  the 
stan(l]ioint  of  the  practical  poultryman. 

In  writing  this  wc^'k  free  use  has  been  made  of  the  stand- 
ard authorities  on  tlie  subject,  including  the  books  cited  above, 
as  well  as  the  following: — 

"Diseases  of  Poultry."  by  Leonard  Pearson. 

"Farm  Poultry  Doctor,"  by  N.  W.  Sanborn. 

'■Relia1)le  Poultry  Remedies."  ])ul)li<hed  by  the  Keliable  Pub- 
li'-hing  Co.,  Ouincy,  Illinois. 


POl'LTKV    Dl^KASHS    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT.  3 

"Die  Krankheiten  dcs  riausgeHugcls."  by  F.  A.  Ziirn. 

"Manual  of  Poultry  Diseases,"  by  Vale. 

"Diseases  of  Poultry."  by  F.  Woodrofife  Hill. 

Also  use  has  been  made  of  the  portions  of  standard  works  on 
poultry  husbandry,  which  deal  with  disease. 

In  every  case  acknowledgement  is  made  to  the  authorities 
cited. 


CHAPTER  1. 


General  Considerations  Regarding  the  Treatment   ..f 

PouLTRY  Diseases. 
There   is   general   agreement  on   the   part   of    authorities   on 
pouUrv  pathology  and  practical  poultrymen  of  long  experience 
that  in  general,  "doctoring"  poultry  is  not  advisable.     The  rea- 
sons forthis  attitude  are  primarily  the  following : 

I  The  unit  of  production  with  poultry  (i.  e.,  the  nidividual 
bird)  is  of  relatively  small  value,  and  if  a  man's  time  is  worth 
anything  it  is  too  valuable  to  spend  treating  sick  chickens  mdi- 
vidually   unless  they   are   show   specimens   of   great  mdividual 

value. 

2.  The  "cured"  chicken  is  a  menace  to  the  owner,  because  its 
identity  is  likely  to  be  overlooked  or  forgotten,  with  the  result 
that  it  goes  into  the  breeding  pen  and  perpetuates  through  its 
offspring  the  constitutional  weakness  which  was  one  fundamen- 
tal factor  in  bringing  about  the  result  that  it,  rather  than  some 

Oi  its  fellows,  w^as  ill. 

This  point  of  view  has  been  well  stated  by  Wright  in  the  fol- 
lowing words : 

"In  a  large  proportion  of  cases  of  disease,  the  birds  ought  to 
die  or  be  killed.  Even  where  there  is  no  constitutional  taint,  the 
fact  that  they  have  succumbed  to  circumstances  which  have  not 
affected  others,  marks  them  out  as  the  weakest,  which  unaided 
Nature  would  assuredly  weed  out,  and  which  if  we  preserve  and 
breed  from,  perpetuate  some  amount  of  that  weakness  in  the 
progeny.  Rheumatism,  for  instance,  can  be  cured  ;  of  that  there 
is  no  doubt.  But  the  vast  majority  who  have  had  such  success, 
agree  that  the  effects  are  either  nczrr  recovered  from  as  regards 
strength  and  vigor,  or  else  that  the  original  weakness  continues ; 
and  the  same  may  be  said  of  some  severe  contagious  diseases, 
such  as  diphtheritic  roup,  which  may  affect  the  strongest.  On 
the  other  hand,  many  diseases  also  apparently  contagious,  and  so 
attacking  healthy  birds  under  certain  predisposing  conditions  of 
exposure  or  other  coincident  strain  upon  the  system,  do  not  ap- 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT.  5 

pear  to  leave  serious  results  behind  them,  and  are  tolerably  defi- 
nite in  symptoms  and  character.  It  is  these  which  may  be  most 
successfully  treated,  and  in  which  treatment  is  most  worth  while 
where  fowls  of  value  are  concerned.  But  it  is  significant  that 
nearly  all  breeders  who  rear  really  large  numbers  of  poultry, 
gradually  come  to  the  conclusion  that,  except  in  special  cases, 
with  valuable  birds,  the  most  economical  treatment  of  serious 
disease  occurring  in  a  yard  is — execution.  Concerning  this  mat- 
ter each  must  judge  for  himself." 

In  the  case  of  the  utility  poultryman,  keeping  poultry  solely 
for  the  eggs  and  meat  they  produce,  practically  the  only  diseased 
conditions  which  it  will  pay  him  to  treat  at  all  are  those  in  which 
the  treatment  can  be  applied  to  the  flock  as  a  whole,  without 
the  necessity  of  handling  individual  birds.  Thus,  for  example, 
in  cases  where  the  flock  "goes  ofif  its  feed,"  or  has  simple  indi- 
gestion or  a  simple  cold,  the  birds  can  be  treated  successfully  as 
a  flock.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  case  of  the  fancier,  who  has 
individual  birds  of  considerable  value  there  will  be  a  much 
wider  range  of  diseases  which  he  will  feel  that  it  is  profitable 
for  him  to  treat.  There  are,  of  course,  certain  diseased  condi- 
tions which  demand  individual  treatment,  but  in  which  the  treat- 
ment is  so  simple  and  the  outcome  is  almost  certain  to  be  so  good, 
as  to  justify  its  employment  even  in  the  case  of  birds  of  ordinary 
value.  An  example  of  such  a  condition  is  found  in  a  crop  bound 
bird.  Robinson  sums  the  matter  up  very  well  in  the  following 
basic  rule  for  poultry  doctoring : 

"Give  treatment  when  it  can  be  applied  to  a  flock  conveniently 
and  with  reasonable  expectation  of  beneficial  results,  and  treat 
individuals,  if  necessary,  when  treatment  is  simple,  easy,  and 
needs  to  be  administered  but  very  few  times." 

Prevention  Rather  Than  Cure  the  Ideal. 
The  aim  of  every  poultry  keeper,  whether  his  interest  is  in  the 
fancy  or  the  utility  end  of  the  business,  should  be  to  breed  and 
manage  his  birds  so  as  to  prevent  entirely,  or  reduce  to  a  mini- 
mum, the  occurrence  of  disease.  In  other  words,  the  attitude 
should  be  that  the  end  to  be  sought  is  to  prevent  the  occurrence 
of  disease,  rather  than  to  rely  on  a  rather  dubious  ability  to 
cure  it  after  it  is  there.  Such  a  standpoint  is  sound  from  every 
point  of  view ;  it  is  in  line  with  the  whole  development  of  mod- 
ern medicine.     The  poultry  doctor  should  regard  his  function 


6  roTT,TK\    i)isi;.\si:s  .\.\n  tiikir  tkkatmknt. 

as  the  same  as  that  ol  tlic  Chine.NC  physician,  who  is  prinianly 
employed  to  keep  the  patient  from  becoming  ill,  only  secondarily 
to  cure  him. 

Now  there  are  fundamentally  two  factors  involved  in  the  con- 
tinued maintenance  of  good  health  in  poultry  (or,  for  the  matter 
of  that,  in  an\-  other  animal).     These  are: 

1.  A  sound  and  vigorous  constitution,  which  if  present,  is 
something  innate  and  "l)red  in  the  1)i>ik-."  and  wliicli.  if  absent, 
niust  be  bred  into  the  stock. 

2.  A  system  of  poultry  management  (including  feeding,  hous- 
ing, etc.)  which  is  thoroughly  and  absolutely  hygienic. 

Let  us  consider  each  of  these  factors  separately  in  some 
detail. 

Breeding  for  Health,  I'igor,  and  Sound  Constitution. 

To  have  a  high  degree  of  constitutional  vigor  in  the  founda- 
tion stock  is  one  of  the  most  certain  assurances  that  the  poultry- 
man  will  not  be  troubled  \vith  disease.  This  is  of  primary 
importance.  In  order  to  breed  constitutional  vigor  into  the  flock 
the  poultryman  must  train  himself  to  recognize  at  a  glance  the 
condition  of  his  birds.  Are  they  in  good  condition  or  not  ?  Re- 
garding the  aspect  of  fowls  in  liealth  and  disease  Salmon  has  the 
following  to  say : 

"W'e  say  that  a  bird  is  in  good  health  when  it  appears  lively, 
has  a  clear  eye.  a  bright  red  comb,  is  quick  and  active  in  its 
movements,  has  a  good  appetite  and  wdien  the  various  organs 
I)erforni  their  functions  in  tlie  manner  in  which  they  are  observed 
to  act  in  all  birds  that  are  vigorous  and  thriving.  On  the  other 
hand,  we  say  a  bird  is  diseased  when  some  function  or  functions 
of  its  body  are  not  performed  as  they  are  the  great  majority  of 
individuals,  or  when  some  organ  presents  an  unusual  form  or 
api^earance.  Disease  has,  therefore,  been  defined  as  a  life  the 
manifestations  of  which  deviate  more  or  less  from  the  normal. 
Practically,  we  say  a  bird  is  diseased  when  we  observe  that  one 
or  more  of  its  functions  are  not  carried  on  in  a  normal  manner, 
or  when  we  fmd  unusual  growths,  injuries,  or  parasites  affecting 
any  of  its  organs." 

In  a  recent  article  Dr.  P.  T.  Woods  (Amer.  Poult.  World, 
\'ol.  I,  Jan.  1910)  gives  some  excellent  advice  in  regard  to 
breeding  for  health  and  vigor.  Tliis  is.  in  manv  respects,  the 
best  brief  summary  of  this  important  subject  wliicli  we  have 
been  able  to  find  in  the  literature.     He  savs : — 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT.  / 

"77;r  Health  Tyf^r. — For  all  practical  purposes,  the  type  of 
health  and  strcn^4h  aiul  the  type  of  weakness,  of  lacking  bodily 
vigor,  are  easil}-  dilTiTcntiated.  Do  not  mistake  the  purely  ner- 
vous enerqv  of  closeh'  bred  thonMighhrcds  for  an  indication  of 
vigor.  Tills  uiay  be  simply  the  mettlesome  spirit  of  the  thor- 
oughljied  and  alone  is  of  no  great  value  as  a  guide  to  health; 
combined  wilh  satisfactory  physical  qualities  it  is  a  desirable 
asset." 

"ClioosiiKj  tin-  Male  Bird. —  Always  l)ear  in  mind  that  the 
male  bird  is  for  all  i)raetical  ])m-p(ises  half  of  the  flock.  The 
male  should  ])e  fully  matured,  well  developed  specimen,  neither 
too  young  nor  too  old.  Male  birds  from  twelve  months  to  two 
and  one-half  years  old  usually  make  the  best  Ijrecdcrs.  He 
should  be  the  son  of  sound  healthy  parents  and  should,  so  far 
as  ])ossi])le,  iiilierit  from  them  the  qualities  which  are  desired 
for  chicks  of  his  get.  He  should  be  particularly  strong  in  all 
points  or  physical  vigor,  and  Standard  requirements,  where 
his  mates  show  any  traces  of  weakness.  Have  him  as  nearly 
perfect  in  Standard  shape  as  ])ossible,  and  of  medium  size  and 
weight  for  the  \ariety.  Too  heavy  males  often  seriously  injure 
their  mates  and  are  not  desirable  in  the  breeding  pen." 

■'Tlu'  head  should  ])e  rather  large,  broad  and  of  good  shape, 
well  carried.  The  eye  should  be  bright,  round  and  full  with  no 
irregularities  in  shape  of  ])upil.  Tlie  comb,  face  and  wattles 
should  be  a  good  healthy  color,  neither  too  ])ale  nor  too  dark. 
Idle  l)(.'ak  shotild  be  rather  short,  stout  and  set  well  at  the  base. 
The  long,  tlattened  beak  of  'crow  headed'  birds  or  the  misshapen 
'hawk  l)iir  are  almost  certain  signs  of  physical  weakness.  The 
neck  should  be  of  medium  length  for  the  A'ariety  and  rather  fidl ; 
the  long,  thin,  'sera\\n\'  neck  goes  with  the  'crow  head."  " 

"Tlie  body  should  lie  well  fille(l  out  and  carried  in  the  well- 
set-up  manner  indicative  of  a  well  ordered  system  of  nutrition, — 
a  good  digestion.  The  i)lumage  --lii  ndd  be  bright,  lustrous  an(l 
carried   rather  closely   for  the  variety."" 

"Mopey.  dojiey.  loosely  feathered  birds  with  dull  plumage  and 
a  listless  'ilon"t  care  for  life'  manner  are  too  short  on  good 
health  to  be  of  \-alue  as  breeding  stock." 

"The  legs  should  be  medium  -hort  for  the  \aricty.  strong  antl 
rather  large  boucMJ  and  set  well  apart.  Tlu'  keel  bone  slinuld  be 
tlrm  and  straight.      TIuTe  -biiuM  be  un  deloi-uiities." 


8  POULTRY    niSKASKS    AND    THKIK    TKIlAT  M  KNT. 

"Lcggv  birds.  knock-kiKcil  aiul  with  crooked  brcasl  bones  arc 
always  lacking  in  physical  vigor  even  if  it  does  not  show  on 
the  surface." 

"The  male  should  l)e  attentive  and  gallant  to  Iiis  mates,  should 
have  a  clear  lusty  crow,  free  from  any  rattle  at  the  end.  He 
should  be  sound  in  wind  and  able  to  fight  or  run  williout  short- 
ness of  breath  or  livid  appearance  of  face  and  comb." 

"A  good  breeder  will  have  a  good  appetite  and  will  usually  be 
of  a  rather  'scrappy'  disposition,  disposed  to  resent  any  inter- 
ference with  his  mates  by  other  fowls  or  by  the  attendant." 

"Choosing  the  Female. — The  female  should  be  a  well-grown, 
well-developed,  fully-matured  pullet  or  sound  and  vigorous 
yearling  or  two  year  old.  The  lieallli  type  will  be  active,  alert 
and  inclined  to  be  talkative,  'singing'  cheerfully,  and  disposed 
to  scratch  antl  forage.  She  is  usually  the  first  off  the  roost  in 
the  morning  and  the  last  to  go  to  bed  at  night.  Head,  eye, 
condition  of  plumage  and  leg  requirements  are  practically  the 
same  as  those  called  for  under  'Choosing  the  Male  I'ird,'  mak- 
ing due  allowance  for  sex." 

"The  body  should  l)e  broad,  deep,  well  filled  out  and  medium 
large  for  the  variety.  The  breast  should  be  broad,  full  and  well 
meatcd  ;  the  back  should  be  broad  and  the  tail  well  spread  at  the 
base.  W'rv  tails,  crooked  backs  or  keels,  or  pinched  tails  should 
disqualif\'  for  the  l)reeding  pen.  The  abdomen  should  be  well 
carried  and  rather  full,  l)ut  should  not  'bag  down.'  " 


CHAPTER    II. 


Poultry   Hygiene. 

Second  in  importance  only  to  high  constitutional  vigor  and 
health  is  attention  to  the  basic  rules  of  hygiene  and  sanitation 
in  the  management  of  poultry.  In  view  of  the  prevalent  mis- 
understanding or  lack  of  understanding  of  these  principles  it 
seems  wise  to-  devote  one  chapter  to  an  outline  of  the  more  im- 
portant points  which  need  to  be  looked  after  in  hygienic  poultry 
keeping.  Attention  to  the  rules  and  principles  here  set  forth  will 
go  a  great  ways  towards  preventing  the  occurrence  of  disease. 
This  does  not  mean  that  if  these  rules  are  not  followed  disease 
and  destruction  will  forthwith  result.  Everyone  knows  of  plenty 
of  instances  of  more  or  less  successful  poultry  keeping  under 
the  most  insanitary  and  tmhygicnic  of  conditions.  So  similarly 
human  beings  are  able  when  forced  to  do  so  to  live  under  un- 
hygienic conditions.  But  every  civilized  country  in  the  world 
believes  that  the  most  economical  insurance  against  the  steady 
loss  of  national  wealth  which  the  prevalence  of  disease  involves 
is  the  enforcement  of  sanitary  regulations  throughout  its  domain. 
Again,  many  men  who  do  not  carry  tire  insurance  on  their 
buildings  go  through  life  without  having  any  of  them  burn  down. 
But  this  is  no  argument  against  the  fact  that  it  is  a  sound  eco- 
nomic policy  to  carry  fire  insurance.  In  poultry  keeping  many 
may  be  successful  for  a  time  in  managing  their  birds  in 
defiance  of  the  laws  of  sanitation  and  iiygicne ;  a  very  fczv  may 
be  successful  in  this  practice  for  a  long  time,  but  in  the  long 
run  the  vast  majority  will  find  that  thorough,  careful,  and  intel- 
ligent attention  to  these  laws  will  be  one  of  the  best  guarantees 
of  permanent  success  that  they  can  find. 

Poultr\-  hygiene  and  sanitation  will  I)e  considered  here  under 
7  main  heads,  as  follows :  i.  Housing.  2.  Feeding.  3.  The 
Land.  4.  Exercise.  5.  External  Parasites.  6.  Disposal  of 
the  Dead.  7.  Isolation  of  Sickness.  What  is  said  under  all  ()f 
these  heads  is  intended  to  apply  (unless  a  specific  statement  to 
the  contrarv  is  made)   both  to  adult  birds  and  ti)  chicks.     Xo 


lo  l•(H•I.•|•u^•  nisKASEs  and  tiikik    tkkatment. 

discussion  of  the  hvi^ienc  of  incubation,  or  of  the  relative  merits 
ot  artificially  and  naturally  hatched  chickens  will  be  undertaken 
here,  because  there  are  special  subjects  fallini^  outride  the  field 
of  ijeneral  jioultry  hygiene. 

1.       I'OULTKN'    IlorSI-:    IIVC.IKNK    AND    SANITATION. 

./.  Cleanliness. — The  thing  of  paramount  importance  in  the 
hygienic  housing  of  poultry  is  clca)iiincss.  ]W  this  is  meant  not 
merely  plain,  ordinary  cleaning  up,  in  the  housewife  sense,  but 
also  bacteriological  cleaning  up;  that  is,  disinfcctioJi.  All  build- 
ings or  structures  of  whatever  kind  in  which  poultry  are  housed 
during  any  part  of  their  lives  should  be  subjected  to  a  most 
thorough  and  searching  cleaning  and  disinfection- a^  least  once 
every  year.  This  cleaning  up  should  naturally  come  for  each 
different  structure  (i.  e.,  laying,  colony  or  brooder  house,  indi- 
vidual brooder,  incubator,  etc. )  at  a  time  which  just  precedes 
the  putting  of  new  stock  into  this  structure. 

Hoi^'  to  clean  a  poultry  house:  Not  every  poultryman  of 
experience  even,  knows  how  really  to  clean  up  a  poultry  house. 
The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  remove  all  the  litter  and  loose  dirt 
which  can  be  shovelled  out.  Then  give  the  house — floor,  walls 
and  ceiling — a  thorough  sweeping  and  shovel  out  the  accumu- 
lated debris.  Then  play  a  garden  hose,  with  the  maximum  water 
pressure  which  can  be  obtained,  upon  floor,  roosting  boards, 
walls  and  ceiling:,  until  all  the  dirt  which  washes  down  easilv  is 
di.sposed  of.  Then  take  a  heavy  hoe  or  roost  board  scraper  and 
proceed  to  scrape  the  floor  and  roosting  boards,  clean  of  the 
trampled,  and  caked  dressing  and  dirt.  Then  shovel  <nit  what 
has  been  accumulated  and  get  the  hose  into  action  once  more  and 
wash  the  whole  place  down  again  thoroughly  and  follow  this 
with  another  scraping.  With  a  stiff  bristled  broom  thoroughly 
scrub  walls,  floors,  nest  boxes,  roost  boards,  etc.  Then  after 
another  rinsing  down  and  cleaning  out  of  accumulated  dirt,  let 
the  house  dry  out  for  a  day  or  two.  Then  make  a  searching 
in.spection  to  .see  if  any  dirt  can  be  discovered.  If  so  apply  the 
appropriate  treatment  as  outlined  above.  If.  however,  every- 
thing ap/^ears  to  be  clean,  the  time  has  come  to  make  it  really 
clean  by  disinfection.  To  do  this  it  is  necessary  to  spray  or 
thoroughly  wash  with  a  scrub  brush  wet  in  the  solution  used  all 
parts  of  the  house  with  a  good  disinfectant  at  least  twice,  allow- 
ing time  between   for  it  to  dry.     For  this  purpose  3  per  cent 


POULTK\     DISEASES    AND    T 1 1  I-.  1  k     IKEATMENT.  II 

cresol  solution  is  rcconinuiKkd.  'I'hc  vh'wi  tiling  is  to  use  an 
effective  (lisinfcctant  and  plenty  of  it,  and  apply  it  at  least  twice. 
A  discussion  of  disinfectants  ininic(liately  follows  this  section. 
To  conii)lete  the  cleaning  of  the  house,  after  the  second  spraying 
of  disinfectant  is  dr\-  apply  a  liquid  lice  killer  (made  by  putting 
1  part  crude  carbolic  acid  or  cresol  with  3  parts  kerosene)  lib- 
erally to  nests  and  roosts  and  uiai-by  walls.  After  all  this  is 
done  tlu'  hou-c  will  be  clciiii.  In  houses  cleaned  annually  in  this 
wa\-  the  lir>t  step  is  taken  towards  hygienic  poultr\'  keeping. 

The  same  ])rinciples  which  have  been  here  brought  out  should 
be  applied  in  cleaning  brooders,  brooder  houses,  and  other  things 
on  the  plant  with  which  the  birds  come  in  coiitact. 

What  has  been  saitl  has  reference  primarily  to  the  annual  or 
semi-annual  cleaning.  Tt  should  not  be  imderstood  by  this  that 
no  cleaning  is  to  be  done  at  any  other  time.  On  the  contrary 
the  rule  should  be  to  kec])  the  poultry  house  clean  at  all  times, 
never  allowing  filth  of  an\-  kind  to  accumulate  and  using  plenty 
of   (Hsinfectant. 

Disiiifcclioii. — Tn  the  matter  of  disinfection  there  are  several 
options  open  to  the  poultr\nian.  Me  ma_\-  make  his  own  disin- 
fectant, or  he  may  i)urchase  proprietary  compounds  like  Zeno- 
leum,  Carl)olineum  or  a  host  of  other  "eums"  which  confront  him 
at  every  turn  in  his  reading  of  poultry  periodicals,  or  he  nvdx  buv 
a  plain  disinfectant  like  formaldehyde,  or  carbolic  acid. 

The  ENperiment  v^tation  has  tried  various  disinfectants  with 
a  view  to  linding  the  mt)st  useful,  when  the  factors  of  eflicienc}-, 
ease  of  a]:)plication  and  low  cost,  are  considered.  There  is  prob- 
al)l_\-  no  more  effective  disinfectant  than  formaldeh}-de,  Init  after 
trying  it  out  it  was  nece.ssary  to  abandon  it  as  a  general 
poultry  house  disinfectant.  The  difllculty  was  that  a  man  couM 
not  stand  the  fumes  long  enough  to  spray  and  scrul)  out  thor- 
oughly a  pen.  Formaldehyde  is  very  good  where  it  can  be  used, 
and  there  is  no  cheaper  disinfectant,  efficiency  considered.  Dr. 
P.  T.  Woods  has  recently  advocated  the  formaldehyde  gas  meth- 
od for  disinfecting  poultry  hou.ses,  u>ing  the  permanganate  meth- 
od of  generating.  This,  however,  is  indicated  only  for  rooms 
which  can  easily  be  closed  up  air  tight.  It  costs  too  much  in 
time  and  trouble  to  make  an\-  form  of  "fresh  air"  poultrv  house 
even  moderately  air  tii;ht.  The  formaldelude  gas  method  is 
wdl  adapted  to  disinfecting  and  fumigating  feed  rooms,  incuba- 


IJ  rOL'U'RV    DISKASES   AND   THEIR    TREATMENT. 

tor  cellars,  brooder  houses  and  all  houses  which  can  be  readily 
made  air  tight.  For  the  benefit  of  those  who  wish  to  use  the 
method  for  such  purposes  the  following  directions  are  given. 
Tliis  will  give  a  very  strong  fumigation  and  disinfection  but  such 
is  indicatetl  about  poultry  establishments. 

"Formaldehyde  Gas  Disinfection:  First  make  the  room  as 
tight  as  possible  by  stoi)ping  cracks,  key-holes,  etc.,  with  pieces 
of  cloth  or  similar  substance.  Open  drawers  and  doors  of  l)u- 
reaus,  wardrobes,  and  closets  to  allow  free  access  of  the  gas. 
Use  a  metal  or  carthern  dish  for  a  generator,  of  sufificient  size 
so  that  the  liquid  will  not  spatter  or  boil  over  on  the  floor,  since 
the  permanganate  will  stain.  The  temperature  of  the  room 
should  not  be  lielow  50°  F.  and  more  effective  disinfection 
will  Ijc  obtained  if  the  temperature  is  80°  F.  or  above  at  the 
beginning.  Sprinkle  boiling  water  on  the  floor  or  place  a  kettle 
01  boiling  water  in  the  room  to  create  a  moist  atmosphere. 
Spread  the  permanganate  evenly  over  the  bottom  of  the  dish  and 
quickly  pour  in  the  formaldehyde  (40  per  cent  strength  as  pur- 
chased). Leave  and  tightly  close  the  room  at  once  and  allow  to 
remain  closed  for  4-6  hours  or  longer,  then  air  thoroughly."  Use 
<?5  ounces  of  permanganate  and  ?  pints  of  formaldehyde  to  each 
1000  cubic  feet  of  space. 

For  general  disinfectant  purposes  about  a  poultry  plant  the 
Station  has  found  the  cheapest  and  most  effective  disinfectant 
to  be  compound  cresol  solution.  This  is  used  here  for  spraying 
and  disinfecting  the  houses  after  they  are  cleaned,  disinfecting 
brooders,  brooder  houses,  incubators,  nests  and  everything  else 
about  the  plant  which  can  be  disinfected  with  a  liquid  substance. 
Any  person  can  easily  make  this  disinfectant.  The  following 
revised  directions  for  its  manufacture  are  quoted  from  Bulletin 
179  of  this  Station. 

Cresol  Disinfectant. — Tl:e  active  base  of  cresol  soap  disinfect- 
ing solution  is  commercial  cresol.  This  is  a  thick,  sirupy  fluid 
varying  in  color  in  different  lots  from  a  nearly  colorless  fluid  to 
a  dark  brown.  It  does  not  mix  readily  with  water,  and,  there- 
fore, in  order  to  make  satisfactory  a  dilute  solution,  it  is  neces- 
sary first  to  incorporate  the  cresol  with  some  substance  like  soap 
which  will  mix  with  water  and  will  carr\-  tlie  cresol  over  into 
the  mixture.  The  commercial  cresol  as  it  is  obtained,  is  a  cor- 
rosive substance,  being  in  this  respect  not  unlike  carbolic  acid. 


POUl/rKV    DISEASES    AM)    TllI-lK    TKKATMENT.  I3 

It  shf)\il(l.  of  course,  be  handled  with  great  care  and  the  pure  cre- 
sol  should  not  he  allowed  to  come  in  contact  with  the  skin.  If  it 
does  so  accidentally  the  spot  should  be  immediately  washed  off 
with  plenty  of  clean  water.  The  price  of  commercial  cresol 
varies  with  the  drug  market.  Tt  can  he  obtained  throuc^li  any 
druggist.  On  the  day  that  this  was  written  the  quotation  on 
cresol  in  the  New  York  market  is  24  cents  per  pounfl.  In  pur- 
chasing this  article  one  should  order  simply  "commercial  cre- 
sol." 

Measure  out  3  1-5  quarts  of  raw  linseed  oil  in  a  4  or  5  gallon 
stone  crock  :  then  weigh  out  in  a  dish  i  lb.  6  oz.  of  commercial 
lye  or  "Babbit's  potash."  Dissolve  this  lye  in  as  little  water  as 
will  completely  dissolve  it.  v^tart  with  ^2  pint  of  water,  and  if 
this  will  not  dissolve  all  the  lye.  add  more  water  slowly.  Let 
this  stand  for  at  least  3  hours  until  the  lye  is  completely  dissolved 
and  the  solution  is  cold ;  then  add  the  cold  lye  solution  very  slow- 
ly to  the  linseed  oil,  stirring  constantly.  Not  less  than  5  minutes 
should  he  taken  for  the  adding  of  this  solution  of  lye  to  the  oil. 
After  the  lye  is  added  continue  the  stirring  until  the  mixture  is 
in  the  condition  and  has  the  texture  of  a  smooth  homogeneous 
liquid  soap.  This  ought  not  to  take  more  than  a  half  hour. 
Then  while  the  soap  is  in  this  liquid  state,  and  before  it  has  a 
chance  to  harden  add,  with  constant  stirring,  8^  quarts  of  com- 
mercial cresol.  The  cresol  will  blend  perfectly  with  the  soap 
solution  and  make  a  clear,  dark  brown  fluid.  The  resulting  solu- 
tion will  mix  in  any  proportion  with  water  and  yield  a  clear 
solution. 

Cresol  soap  is  an  extremely  powerful  disinfectant.  In  the 
Station  poultry  plant  for  general  purposes  of  disinfecting  the 
houses,  brooder  houses,  incubators,  nests,  and  other  wood  work. 
it  should  be  used  in  a  3  per  cent  .solution  with  water.  Two  or  3 
tablespoons  full  of  the  cresol  .soap  to  each  gallon  of  water  will 
make  a  satisfactory  solution.  This  solution  may  be  applied 
through  any  kind  of  spray  pump  or  with  a  brush.  Being  a  clear 
watery  fluid  it  can  be  used  in  any  spray  pump  without  difficulty. 
For  disinfecting  brooders  or  incubators  which  there  is  reason 
to  believe  have  been  particularly  liable  to  infection  with  the 
germs  of  white  diarrhea  or  other  diseases  the  cresol  may  be 
used  in  double  the  strength  given  above  and  applied  with  a  scrub 
brush  in  addition  to  the  spray. 


14  l»Ol'LTKV    DISKASKS    AM)    TIlKlk    TRKATXi'XT. 

B.  Fresh  Air  and  Liyht. — Toci  groat  stress  cannot  be  laid  on 
the  importance  of  plenty  of  fresh  air  in  the  poultry  house  if  the 
birds  are  to  keep  in  good  condition.  And  it  must  be  renum- 
bered in  this  connection  that  "fresli"  air,  and  cold  stagnant  an- 
are  two  \ery  different  things.  Too  man\-  of  the  types  of  curtain 
front  and  so-called  "fresh  air"  houses  now  in  use  are  without 
any  provision  other  than  an  oljliging  southerly  wind,  to  insure  tlu- 
circulation  or  changing  of  air  within  the  house.  Even  with  an 
open  front  house  it  is  wise  to  ])r(>\iile  fur  a  circulation  of  air 
in  such  way  that  direct  drafts  cannot  strike  the  Ijirds.  Thi^ 
applies  not  only  to  the  housing  of  adult  birds  in  laying  houses, 
but  also  to  the  case  of  young  stock  in  colony  houses  on  the 
range.*  Further  a  circulation  of  fresh  air  under  the  hover  in 
artificial  rearing  is  greatly  to  be  desired  and  will  have  a  marked 
effect  on  the  health  and  vigor  of  the  chicks. 

Not  only  should  tlie  ])oultry  house  be  such  as  to  furnish  plenty 
of  fresli  air.  l)ut  it  should  also  1)0  ligJit.  The  prime  importance 
of  sunlight  in  sanitation  is  universally  recognized  Ijy  medical 
authorities.  Disease  germs  cannot  stand  prolonged  exposure  to 
the  direct  rays  of  the  sun.  Sunlight  is  X^ature's  great  disin- 
fectant. Its  importance  is  no  less  in  poultry  than  in  human  sani- 
tation. The  following  statement  made  some  years  ago  (1904) 
by  a  writer  signing  himself  "^1"  in  Farm  Poultry  (Vol.  15) 
brings  home  in  a  few  words  the  importance  of  having  plenty  of 
light  in  the  j)Oullry  house. 

"Light  in  the  poultry  house  has  boon  found  by  a  writer  a 
great  Jiclp  in  keeping  the  liouse  clean  and  keeping  the  fowls 
healthy.  Probably  there  is  no  greater  assistance  to  the  diseases 
of  poultry  than  dark  and  damp  liousos.  and  dark  houses  are 
frequently  damp.  In  recent  years  I  have  had  both,  kinds  of  ex- 
perience, those  with  the  hens  confined  in  a  large,  dry  and  li;4lit 
house,  and  with  hens  confined  in  a  dark  house  in  which  a  sin- 
gle window^  looking  towards  the  setting  sun  furnished  the  only 
light.  Peing  forced  to  use  the  latter  building  for  an  entire 
winter  I  fi  lund  it  impossible  to  get  it  thoroughly  dried  out  after 
a  rain  had  rendered  the  walls  damp.  Py  spring  some  of  the 
fowls  that  had  been  confined  there  began  to  die  of  a  mysterious 


*See  in  this  connection  the  modification  of  the  i\Iaine  Station  colony 
house  to  insure  circulation  of  air,  as  given  in  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Farm- 
ers' Bulletin  357. 


POULTRV    DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT.  1 5 

disease  and  a  i)()>t-niortein  examination  showed  it  to  he  liver 
disease.  Later  the  roup  broke  out  in  the  same  house  and  this 
dread  di.sease  continued  with  the  flock  for  months  exacting  a 
heavy  toll  in  laying  hens." 

C.  Avoid  Dampness.  Of  all  unfavorable  environmental 
conditions  into  which  poultry  may,  by  bail  management,  be 
brought,  a  damp  house  is  probably  the  worst.  Nothing  will 
diminish  the  productivity  of  a  flock  so  quickly  and  surely  as 
will  dampness  in  the  house,  and  nothing  is  so  certain  and  speedy 
an  excitant  to  roup  and  kindred  ills.  The  place  where  poultry 
are  housed  )nust  be  kept  dry  if  the  flock  is  to  be  productive 
and  free  from  disease. 

D.  Provide  Clean  and  Dry  Litter.  Experience  has  demon- 
strated that  the  best  way  in  which  to  give  fowls  exercise  during 
the  winter  months  in  which,  in  northern  climates  at  least,  they 
must  be  housed  the  greater  part  if  not  all  of  the  time,  is  by  pro- 
viding a  deep  litter  in  which  the  birds  scratch  for  their  dry 
grain  ration.  For  this  litter  the  Experiment  Station  uses  pine 
planer  shavings,  with  a  layer  of  straw  on  top.  Whatever  the 
htter  it  should  be  changed  as  often  as  it  gets  damp  or  dirty. 

ir.       HYGIENIC  FEEDING. 

Along  with  housing  as  a  prime  factor  in  poultry  sanitation 
goes  feeding.  This  is  not  the  place  to  enter  upon  a  detailed  dis- 
cussion of  the  compounding  of  rations  and  such  topics,  but  there 
are  certain  basic  principles  of  hygienic  feeding  which  must 
always  be  looked  after  if  one  is  to  avoid  diseases.     There  are  : 

A.  Purity.  It  should  be  a  rule  of  every  poultryman  never 
to  feed  any  material  which  is  not  clean  and  wholesome.  Musty 
and  mouldy  grain,  tainted  meat  scraps  or  cut  bone,  table  scraps 
which  have  spoiled,  and  decayed  fruits  or  vegetables  should 
never  be  fed.  If  this  consideration  were  always  kept  in  mind 
many  cases  of  undiagnosed  sickness  and  deaths,  and  low  condi- 
tion in  the  stock  would  be  avoided.  Keep  all  utensils  in  which 
food  is  ])laced  clea)i. 

B.  Avoid  Overfeeding.  Intensive  poultry  keeping  involves 
of  necessity  heavy  feeding,  but  one  should  constantly  be  on 
the  lookout  to  guard  against  overfeeding,  which  ])uts  the  bird 
into  a  state  of  lowered  vitality  in  which  its  natural  powers  of 
resistance  to  all  forms  of  infectious  and  other  diseases  are  re- 
duced.    The  feeding  of  high  protein  concentrate^  like  lin'^eerl  or 


l6  rOUI.TRV    DISKASKS    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 

cotton  seed  meal  lucds  to  be  particularly  carefully  watched  in 
this  respect. 

C.  Provide  Plotty  of  Green  Food.  Under  natural  condi- 
tions poultry  arc  free  eaters  of  green  grass  and  other  plants. 
Such  green  food  supplies  a  definite  need  in  metabolism,  the 
place  of  wliich  can  be  taken  by  no  other  sort  of  food  material.  It 
is  nt)t  enough  merely  to  supply  succulence  in  the  ration.  Fowls 
need  a  certain  amount  of  succulent  food,  but  they  also  need  fresh 
green  food.  The  Station  has  found  green  sprouted  oats,  when 
properly  prepared,  to  be  an  excellent  source  of  winter  green 
food.  Full  directions  for  sprouting  oats  are  given  in  Bulletin 
179  of  the  ?klaine  Station,  a  copy  of  wdiich  may  be  had  upon 
application  to  the  Director  of  the  Station. 

D.  Provide  FresJi  and  Clean  Drinking  Water.  The  most 
sure  and  rapid  method  by  which  infectious  diseases  of  all  kinds 
are  transmitted  through  a  flock  of  birds  is  by  means  of  the 
water  pail  from  which  they  all  drink  in  common.  Furthermore 
the  water  itself  may  come  from  a  contaminated  source  and  be 
llie  origin  of  infection  to  the  flock.  Finally  it  is  difficult  to  de- 
vise any  satisfactory  drinking  fountain  in  which  the  water  is 
not  liable  to  contamination  from  litter,  manure,  etc.  All  these 
considerations  indicate  the  advisability  of  adding  to  all  drinking 
water  which  is  given  to  poultry  some  substance  which  shall  act 
as  a  harmless  antiseptic.  The  best  of  all  such  substances  yet 
discovered  for  use  with  poultry  is  potassium  permanganate. 
This  is  a  dark  reddish-purple  crystalline  substance  which  can 
be  bought  of  any  druggist.  It  ought  never  to  cost  more  than 
20C-3OC  per  pound  and  a  pound  will  last  for  a  long  time.  It 
should  be  used  in  the  following  way :  In  the  bottom  of  a  large 
mouthed  jar,  bottle  or  can,  put  a  layer  of  potassium  permanga- 
nate crystals  an  inch  thick.  Fill  up  the  receptacle  with  water. 
This  water  will  dissolve  all  of  the  crystals  that  it  is  able  to.  This 
will  make  a  stock  saturated  solution.  A.s  this  solution  is 
used  add  more  water  and  more  crystals  as  needed,  always  aim- 
ing to  keep  a  layer  of  undissolved  crystals  at  the  bottom.  Keep 
a  dish  of  stock  solution  like  this  alongside  the  faucet  or  pump 
where  the  water  is  drawn  for  the  poultry.  Whenever  any  water 
is  draxi'n  for  either  chicks  or  adult  fozcls  add  enough  of  the^ 
stock  solution  to  give  the  zvater  a  rather  deep  wine  color.  This 
means  i   to  2  teaspoons  of  the  stock  solution  to   to  quarts  of 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TlllvIR    TKl-.AT.M  ENT.  IJ 

water.  At  the  same  time  one  should  clean  and  disinfect  the 
drinking-  pails  and  fountains  regularly,  just  as  he  would  if  he 
were  not  using  potassium  permanganate.  At  the  Station  plant 
for  some  2  years  past  no  bird  has  ever  had  a  drink  of  water  from 
the  time  it  was  hatched  whicli  did  not  contain  potassium  per- 
manganate, except  such  water  as  it  got  from  mud  puddles  and 
the  like. 

Dr.  G.  P).  Morse,  the  well  known  authority  on  poultry  dis- 
eases of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  had  the  following  to 
say  regarding  this  point  in  a  recent  address  (Rel.  Poult.  Jour. 
Oct.  1910).  After  describing  the  potassium  permanganate 
method,  as  well  as  two  others,  directed  to  the  same  end.  but 
in  the  opinion  of  the  present  writers  not  so  desirable  as  this, 
he  goes  on  to  say :  "Water-l)orne  diseases  are  frequent  in  the 
poultry  yard.  Clean  and  disinfect  your  drinking-fountains  (and 
you  must)  ever  so  well,  if  you  are  permitting,  consciously  or 
unwittingly,  to  run  at  large  one  bird  sick  with  any  of  the  con- 
tagious diseases  of  the  head  parts  or  with  bowel  diseases,  you 
may  count  on  that  water  supply  being  contaminated  in  less 
than  one  hour's  time.  In  the  case  of  a  large  flock  affected 
with  flagellate  diarrhoea  I  have  myself  found  the  flagellates  in 
less  than  one  hour's  time  in  the  drinking  water  which  had  been 
sterilized  and  placed  in  thoroughly  disinfected  fountains.  Do 
you  not  see  where  such  a  condition  as  this  forces  you  ?  Right  up 
against  the  principle  of  the  individual  drinking  cup.  Ridicu- 
lous, do  you  say?  Xot  a  l)it.  I  did  not  say  'the  individual 
drinking  cup,'  but  the  'principle  of  the  individual  drinking  cup.' 
Boards  of  health  are  recognizing  that  by  means  of  the  common, 
public  drinking-cup  foul  and  terrible  diseases  are  being  spread 
among  people.  It  is  just  so  with  your  poultry,  and  while  you 
cannot  adopt  the  individual  cup  you  can  incorporate  the  prin- 
ciple of  it  in  your  hygienic  methods  by  adding  ***** 
one  of  the  antiseptics  named.  It  is  true,  in  the  proportions 
named,  these  remedies  do  not  disinfect  the  water,  onlv  act  as 
antiseptics,  that  is.  act  to  hinder  the  developement  of  bacteria 
and  other  microbes.  The  water  itself  should  be  changed  fre- 
quently.  This  hindering  of  microbian  growth  occurs  not  only 
in  the  fountain  but  is  kept  up  in  the  intestinal  tract." 


l8  POULTRY   DISICASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

III.      THE  LAND. 

One  of  the  most  important  considerations  in  poultry  sanita- 
tion is  to  keep  the  ground  on  which  the  hirds  are  to  live  hoth 
as  chicks  and  as  adults  from  becoming  foul  and  contaminated. 
This  is  not  a  very  difficult  thing  to  do  if  one  has  enough  land 
and  practices  a  definite  and  systematic  crop  rotation  in  which 
poultry  form  one  element.  On  the  open  range  where  chicks 
are  raised  a  3  year  rotation  is  entirely  feasible  and  serves  its 
purpose  well.  Such  a  system  of  cropping  would  be  something 
as  follows :  First  year,  chickens ;  second  year,  a  hoed  crop. 
like  beets,  cabbage,  mangels  or  corn,  the  ground  to  be  seeded 
down  to  timothy  and  clover  after  the  crop  is  taken  off;  third 
year,  in  grass ;  fourth  year,  chickens  again.  Other  cropping  sys- 
tems to  serve  the  same  purpose  can  easily  be  devised. 

To  maintain  the  runs  connected  with  a  permanent  poultry 
house  where  adult  birds  are  kept  in  a  sweet  and  clean  condition 
is  a  more  difficult  problem.  About  the  best  that  one  can  do 
here  is  to  arrange  alternate  sets  of  runs  so  that  one  set  may  be 
used  one  year  and  the  other  set  the  next,  purifying  the  soil  so 
far  as  may  be  by  plowing  and  harrowing  thoroughly  annually, 
and  planting  exhaustive  crops.  Failing  the  possibility  of  alter- 
nating in  this  way,  disinfection  and  frequent  plowing  are  the 
only  resources  left. 

The  following  excellent  advice  on  this  subject  is  given  by  the 
English  poultry  expert  Mr.  E.  T.  Brown  (Farm  Poultry,  \'ol. 
18,  p.  294)  :  ''Tainted  ground  is  responsible  for  many  of  the 
diseases  from  which  fowls  suft'er,  and  yet  it  is  a  question  that 
rarely  receives  the  attention  it  deserves.  The  chief  danger  of 
tainted  soil  arises  when  fowds  are  kept  in  confinement,  but  still 
we  often  find  that  even  w-ith  those  at  liberty  the  land  over  which 
they  are  running  is  far  from  pure.  So  long  as  the  grass  can  be 
kept  growing  strongly  and  vigorously  there  is  small  fear  of  foul 
ground,  as  the  growth  absorbs  the  manure ;  it  is  when  the  grass 
becomes  worn  away  that  the  chief  danger  arises.  The  manure 
constantly  falling  upon  the  same  small  area,  and  there  being 
nothing  to  use  it  up,  the  land  is  bound  in  a  short  space  of  time 
to  become  so  permeated  as  to  be  thoroughly  unfit  for  fowls. 
The  question  is  very  often  asked  in  connection  with  this  subject 
as  to  how  many  fowls  a  certain  sized  piece  of  land  w-ill  accom- 
modate the  whole  year  through.     Occasionally  one  may  see  in 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT.  I9 

some  of  the  agricultural  or  poultry  journals  this  question  an- 
swered, but  as  a  matter  of  fact  to  give  any  stated  number  is  most 
misleading.  It  depends  very  largely  upon  the  class  of  soil,  as 
some  can  carr}-  twice  as  many  birds  as  others ;  it  depends  upon 
the  breed  of  poultry,  some  being  much  mi)rc  active  than  others, 
and  thus  requiring  more  space;  it  depends,  too,  upon  the  time 
of  year,  because  during  the  spring  and  summer,  when  there  is 
an  abundance  of  vegetable  growth  in  the  sfiil.  a  considerably 
larger  number  of  birds  can  be  maintained  than  during  the 
autumn  or  winter.  The  number  must  be  varied  according  to 
these  circumstances,  and  no  hard  and  fast  rule  is  applicable." 

"The  results  of  tainted  ground  are  generally  quickly  notice- 
able, as  the  fowls  have  a  sickly  appearance,  the  feathers  lose  their 
brilliant  lustre,  and  the  wings  begin  to  droop.  Roup,  gapes,  and 
other  ailments  speedily  show  themselves,  causing,  if  not  death 
itself,  considerable  loss  and  unpleasantness.  One  of  the  greatest 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  portable  houses  is  that  they  so 
greatly  reduce  the  risk  of  tainted  ground,  as  they  are  being 
constantly  moved  from  one  place  to  another,  thus  evenly  dis- 
tributing the  manure.  When  it  is  remembered  that  each  adult 
fowl  drops  nearly  a  hundred  weight  of  manure  in  the  course 
of  a  year,  the  importance  of  this  question  will  be  immediately 
realized.  It  is  quite  possible,  however,  provided  that  suitable 
precautions  are  taken,  to  keep  a  comparatively  small  run  pure 
for  a  long  time.  If  the  grass  is  short  it  should  be  occasionally 
swept,  in  this  manner  removing  a  good  deal  of  the  manure.  An- 
other important  point  is  to  always  have  around  the  house  a  space 
of  gravel,  upon  which  the  birds  should  be  fed,  and  if  swept  once 
or  twice  a  week  this  will  have  a  wonderful  eiifect  in  preserving 
the  purity  of  the  grass  portion.  Anyone  who  has  observed  poul- 
try will  know  how  fond  they  are  of  constantly  being  near  the 
house,  and  thus  the  greater  portion  of  their  droppings  falls  within 
its  immediate  vicinity.  The  shape  of  the  run  also  has  a  great 
bearing  upon  the  length  of  time  it  will  remain  untainted,  a  long 
narrow  run  being  much  superior  to  a  square  one.  I  have  pn^ved 
by  my  own  e.xperience  how  true  this  is,  and  probably  a  long  and 
narrow  run.  containing  the  same  amount  of  space  will  remain 
pure  twice  as  long.  It  is  unnecessary  here  to  go  into  a  full 
explanation  of  why  this  is  so,  but  I  may  state  the  fact,  which 
I  am  confident  is  quite  correct.     If  the  space  at  one's  disposal 


2Q  POULTKV    DISKASKS    AND    TIIKTR    TRKATMENT. 

is  vcrv  limited  it  i>  a  L,nKi(l  plan  to  divide  it  into  two  equal  parts, 
placing  the  house  in  the  middle.  During  one  year  one-halt 
would  I)e  available  for  the  fowls,  the  other  being  planted  with 
some  quickly  growing  vegetables,  the  order  being  reversed  tlie 
year  following.  The  vegetable  growth  has  the  effect  of  quickly 
using  up  the  manure,  and  in  this  manner  quite  a  small  plot  of 
land  can  be  heavily  stocked  with  poultry  for  an  unlimited  num- 
ber of  vears.  If  the  soil  becomes  at  all  foul  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
water  it  with  a  i  per  cent  solution  of  sulphuric  acid,  or  to  apply 
a  light  dressing  of  gas  lime." 

IV.     EXERCISE. 

If  poultry  are  to  be  in  good  condition,  and  maintain  their 
normal  resistance  to  disease  they  must  cxoxise.  As  chicks  they 
will  do  this  on  the  range.  As  adults  (in  climates  like  that  of 
]^Iaine  )  the  most  feasible  way  to  bring  this  about  is  to  provide 
litter  and  make  the  birds  scratch  for  their  feed. 

V.      EXTERNAL  PARASITES. 

In  hvgienic  poultry  keeping  the  birds  must  be  kept  reasonably 
free  at  all  times  of  lice,  mites,  and  all  other  forms  of  external 
parasites.  Directions  for  dealing  with  this  matter  are  given  in 
detail  farther  on  in  this  book  in  the  chapter  on  External  Para- 
sites. It  is  desired  here  merely  to  call  attention  to  the  matter 
as  one  of  the  general  principles  of  hygienic  poultry  management. 

VI.      DISPOSAL    OF   DEAD    P.IRDS. 

The  poultry  plant  which  does  not  have  some  dead  birds  to 
dispose  of  from  time  to  time  has  yet  to  be  started.  Just  in  con- 
nection with  the  disposal  of  such  dead  birds  is  one  of  the  weak- 
est points  in  poultry  sanitation  as  too  commonly  practiced.  The 
number  of  poultry  keepers  who  throw-  dead  birds  on  the  manure 
pile  or  out  on  a  temporar}-  unused  field  is  much  too  large.  This 
is  a  short  sighted  and  dangerous  procedure.  Anyone  who  con- 
tinues for  a  long  enough  time  to  dispose  of  his  dead  birds  in 
such  a  way  is  tolerably  sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  be  wiped  out  of 
business  by  an  epidemic,  with  a  thoroughness  and  despatch  which 
will  leave  him  wondering  what  in  the  world  has  happened. 

The  most  sanitary  method  of  disposal  of  dead  bodies  is  crema- 
tion.    Wherever  it  is  possible  every  dead  bird  should  be  burned 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR    TREATMENT.  21 

just  as  soon  as  may  be  after  death  has  occurred.  In  many  cases, 
however,  a  farmer  or  poultryman  is  not  so  situated  as  to  be  al)le 
to  burn  dead  animals  without  too  great  an  expenditure  of  time 
or  labor.  In  this  event  burial  is  about  the  only  alternative,  and 
here,  as  in  the  song,  it  is  wise  to  dig  the  grave  "both  wide  and 
deep."  especially  deep.  Otherwise,  through  the  aid  of  foxes, 
dogs,  skunks,  or  other  creatures,  the  dead  may  "rise  again"  in 
a  literal  and  most  insanitary  manner. 

VII.      ISOLATION    OF    SICKNESS. 

\\'hether  one  expects  to  treat  the  bird  or  to  kill  it.  every  indi- 
vidual that  sJiozvs  signs  of  sickness  should  be  removed  from  the 
general  flock.  W^hen  the  bird  has  been  isolated  a  decision  as  to 
what  will  be  done  about  the  case  can  be  reached  at  leisure,  and 
in  the  meantime  the  flock  is  not  subjected  to  the  danger  of  in- 
fection. This  is  an  important  matter  with  yoimg  chickens  as 
well  as  with  adult  stock. 

The  Essentials  Of  Poultry  Hygiene. 

To  summarize  this  discussion  of  poultry  hygiene  and  sanita- 
tion it  may  be  said  that  the  essentials  in  the  hygienic  and  sanitary 
management  of  poultry  are 

1.  Clean  Houses. 

2.  Clean  Air. 

3.  Clean  Food. 

4.  Clean  Water. 

5.  Clean  Yards  and  Clean  Range. 

6.  Clean  Incubators  and  Brooders. 

7.  Clean  Birds.  Outside  and  Inside. 


CHArTER    III. 


The  Diagnosis  of  the  Diseases  of  Poultry. 

The  first  thing  that  tlic  poultry  keeper  whose  hirds  are  ill 
wants  to  know  is:  "What  ails  my  chickoisr'  Before  he  can 
use  this  or  any  other  book  on  poultry  diseases  effectively  in 
getting  advice  for  the  treatment  of  disease  he  must  diagnose 
the  trouble.  It  is  the  purpose  of  this  chapter  to  help  him  do 
this,  and  in  this  way  make  this  book  more  useful  to  the  practical 
poultryman.  At  the  outstart  it  should  be  said  that  the  abso- 
littclv  certain  differential  diagnosis  of  particular  diseases  of 
poultrx,  by  the  farmer  or  ponltrymau.  either  on  the  basis  of 
external  symptoms  or  post-mortem  examination  is  in  nearly 
ez'erx  case  i)npossible.  The  best  that  can  be  done  practically 
is  to  determine  into  what  general  class  of  diseases  a  particular 
trouble  falls. 

There  are  two  general  sources  of  information  upon  which  to 
base  a  chagnosis  of  disease.     These  are : 
I.     External  symptoms. 

II.     Post-mortem  examination. 

EXTERNAL   SYMPTOMS,    WITH    A   TABLE   TO   AID   IN    THE    IDENTIFI- 
CATION   OF    THE    CHIEF    CLASSES   OF    POULTRY   DISEASES. 

There  are  certain  external  symptoms  which  are  characteristic 
in  a  way  <>f  nearly  all  diseases.  These  symptoms  merely  indi- 
cate that  the  bird  is  sick;  they  are  of  no  value  for  purposes  of 
differential   diagnosis. 

These  general  symptoms  of  illness  may  be  described  as  fol- 
lows:  A  sick  fowl  is  usually  quiet,  and  does  not  move  about 
unless  disturbed.  It  stands  or  sits  with  tlie  neck  contracted  so 
that  tlie  liead  is  i)ulled  well  in  to  the  budy.  giving  the  bird  a 
"humped  up"  appearance.  The  eyes  are  often  closed,  entirely 
or  partly,  giving  the  bird  a  sleepy  appearance.  Often  the 
feathers  are  roughened  and  stick  out  all  over  the  body.  The 
CKiiib  and  wattles  may  l)e  dark  or,  on  the  other  liand.  may  be 
ver\-  ])ale. 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 


23 


Wlicn  a  l)ircl  shows  these  general  symptoms  of  illness  it  should 
be  picked  up  and  isolated  and  an  effort  made  to  obtain  a  more 
precise  diagnosis.  In  doing  this  the  following  table  of  the  chief 
external  symptoms  may  be  found  of  use. 

This  table  aims  to  direct  one  to  the  discussion  of  general 
classes  of  disease.  The  identification  of  special  individual  dis- 
eases should  be  attempted  only  after  reading  over  the  chapters 
covering  the  general  class  involved.  In  general  it  should  be 
kept  in  mind  that  tliis  table  is  not  intended  to  tell  the  readeti 
zchat  the  disease  he  finds  is,  but  solely  to  tell  him  zvhat  parts  of 
this  book  to  read  in  any  giz'en  ease  in  order  to  make  a  diagnosis. 

Table  of  External  Symptoms  zvhich  may  be  of  Some  Value  in 

Differential  Diagnosis. 

The  numbers  in  brackets  denote  the  pages  to  be  consulted. 


Symptom. 


Diseases  which  the  symptom  named  may  indicate. 


Abdomen  swollen  jPeritonitis  (72),  Dropsy  (73),  White  diarrhea  (181). 

Belehing  of  gas Inflammation  of  crop  (34). 

Brcfithhtf/  abnormal  li.  e.).  Diseases  of  the  respiratory  system  (85). 
too  rapid,  too  slow,  wheez-  Arsenic  poisoning  (44).  Pericanlilis  (112). 
ing.  whistling,  snoring  or  (Japes  (19.5).  Air-.sae  mite  (110). 
in  any  ditlerent  from  nor- 
mal  


Choking. 


Arsenic  poisoning  (44). 


Comb    pale Tuberculosis  (57).  Dropsy  {'%).  Airsae  mite  (110). 

Infectious  leukemia  (114),  Wtiiie  diarrhea  (181). 

Cmnh     tirst  pale,  but   later  Enteritis  (39). 
dark 


Coiiih.  very  dark. 


Comb,  yellow. 


Liver  disease  (47).  Blackhead  (.53). 
Congestion  of  lungs,  (107).  Pneumonia  (108). 

Liver  diseases  (47) ,  Visceral  gout  (121) . 


Co»>i/a  witli  while,  powdery  White  comb  (1.50). 
scurf i 


Constipation Simple  eonsiipaiion  (41) ,  1  ndlgestion (42) , 

Inflammation  of  oviduct  (16.5). 

funvulxioim Arsenic  poisoning  (44).  Copper,  lead  or  zinc  poisoning  (44). 

Epilepsy  (119).    •Harvest-bug"  (145). 


Coiii/h  :  Diseases  of  the  respiratory  system  (85) 

Crop,  enlarged  and  hard. . .  Crop  bound  (32) 
Crop,  enlarged  and  soft... 


Inflammation  of  crop  (34).  Enlarged  crop  (36), 
Gastritis  (36). 

Diarrhra Diseases  of  the  alimentary  tract  (32).  Arsenic  poisoning  (44). 

iCopper.  lead  or  zinc  poisoning  (44).    Hlackhead  (.53), 
Tuberiulosis  (57).  Cholera  (66).  Roup  (90). 
White  diarrhea  (181). 

yostrils.  discharge  from . . . ;  Diseases  of  the  respiratory  system  (85) . 

Emaciation .Tuberculosis  (57).    Aspergillosis   (104).  Visceral  gout  (121) 

Mites  (132),  \Vhile  diarrhea  (ISl). 


24 


POLl.TRV   DISKASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 


Tabic  of  External  Symptoms — Concluded. 

Till'  minilnTs  In  t)inckeis  (Iciioif  ilii>  juiuis  lo  he  ctuisiilU'il. 


Symptom. 


Ki/f.  expansion  of  pupil  — 
/i^j/f,  sticky  discharge  from 
Fun-,  swollen 


Diseases  wbich  the  symptom  named  may  indicate. 


Arsenic  poisoning  (44). 
Cauirrh  (87).   II.mii.  (90). 
l{oup  (90). 


Jtriiiipiiii/s-  bright  emeraldi 
jrreen 1  Cholera  (GG). 

Fir,  r.  marked I'erii<)niiis(72) .  .AsperKlllosls  (104).  In  fecilous  leukemia  (114) . 

Inllammmlon  of'<jvulnct  (1(55). 

LiiiDi'iKss 'Tuberculosis  (57).  Aspergillosis  (104).  RlieunialLsni  (123). 

.■^caly  leg  (135).  Humble  foot  (202). 
Lvqa.     roughened,     with 
scales  raised Scaly  leg  (135). 


Month,    mucous    discharge 
from 


Miiuth.    white,    cheesy 
patches  in 


yaii.sea  and   VitinitiiKj- 


CongesiioiKif  the  lungs  (107).  Pneumonia  (108).  Gapes  (195). 

Roup  (90).  Canker  (10;i). 

Inflammation  of  the  crop  (34). 
Copper,  lead  or  zinc  poisoning  (44). 


Ki'vk-  bent  backward Strvehnine  poLsoning  (4.5).  Congestion  of  the  brain  (119). 

Wry  neek  (123). 


Neck.  limp. 
J'li  rali/sis  . 


Salira.  copious  secretion.. 


Limberneck  (123). 

Coi)per.  lead  or  zinc  poisoning  (44). 
Sirychnine  poi.soning  (45).  .\poplexy  (118), 
Heat  prostration  (118). 


Arsenic  poisoning  (44). 
Skin,  putted  out  in  blisters.  Eniphy.sema  (194). 
.S"A-('«,  scaly  and  inerusted...  Body  mange  (144).  Favus  (147). 


Staff(/eriiig 

TItirxt.  excessive. 


Tonijur.  hard  and  dry. 

I'liiiiorx  on  head 

Urates,  yellow 


Vent,  mass  of  inflamed  tis- 
sue projecting  from 


Vent,  skin  inflamed. 


Congestion  of  the  brain  (Hit).  Leg  weakness  (192). 

Hypertrophy  of  the  liver  (50),  Peritonitis  (72), 
Aspergillosis  (104).  Tapeworms  (76). 

Pip  (102).  Di.seasesof  the  respiratory -ivsi em   (8,5). 
Roup  (90).  Chicken  pox  (150). 
Cholera  (66). 

Prolapse  of  oviduct  (167). 
Vent  gleet  (177). 


POST-MORTEM     EXAM  IX.\TIONS. 

Whenever  a  bird  dies  from  a  cause  n(^t  entire^  clear  to  the 
poultr\inan  a  ])()st-mortem  examination  should  be  made  in  order 
to  learn,  if  possible,  from  the  condition  of  the  internal  organs 
what  it  was  that  caused  death.  The  ])oultryman  should  familiar- 
ize him.self  with  the  appearance  of  the  internal  organs  in  a  nor- 


POULTRV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIR    TREATMENT.  25 

ma  I  State  of  health,  so  that  he  may  at  once  recognize  any  de- 
])arture  from  tlie^c  normal  conditions. 

The  following  directions  and  general  advice  regarding  the 
making  np  of  autopsies  is  taken  from  the  English  poultry  jour- 
nal " Poultry"  : 

"Ifoi^'  to  iiialcc  a  post-iiiorfcin  cxaiiiination.  so  that  these  vari- 
ous oKfjaits  can  be  Si'cii  and  cxatninai,  and  so  that  a  genera' 
opinion  can  he  formed  as  to  their  condition  of  health  or  other- 
z^'ise.  Let  it  be  understood  that  a  very  large  number  of  poultry 
which  die  are  victims  of  some  entirely  simple  complaint,  such 
as  enlargement  of  the  liver,  or  tuberculosis  in  the  lungs.  These 
complaints  are  easily  recognizable,  and  there  is  no  reason  at  all 
whv  anv  farmer  or  amateur  poultry  keeper  should  not  l)e  able 
to  form  a  general  opinion  as  to  whether  his  poultry  are  dying 
off  from  some  such  complaint  as  one  or  other  of  these.  Take 
the  dead  bird  and  lay  it  on  a  wooden  table  or  on  a  piece  of  strong 
board.  l)rea>t  upi)ermost.  Spread  out  the  wings  and  the  legs, 
putting  a  small  nail  tbrouglT  the  joint  of  each  wing  and  through 
the  center  of  each  foot.  It  is  not  neces-sary  for  the  bird  to  be 
entireh-  ])lucked  ;  it  will  l)e  enough  to  pluck  the  breast,  and  when 
this  has  lieen  done  pincli  u])  the  skin  at  the  point  of  the  breast 
bone,  and  cut  it  straight  through  from  the  vent  to  the  crop. 
Having  done  this,  draw  back  the  skin  on  both  sides  so  as  tfi  leave 
the  tlesh  fully  exposed,  and  tlien  with  a  sharj)  knife  cut  through 
the  lle>li  on  both  sides  of  tlie  breast  bone,  and  with  a  strong, 
blunt  pointed  pair  of  scis.sors,  cut  out  the  center  of  the  breast 
bone  entirely,  taking  i)articular  care  in  doing  so  not  to  injure 
the  heart,  as  a  ilow  of  blood  from  tlie  heart  will  interfere  with 
subsequent  operations.  When  this  lias  been  done  the  principal 
organs  will  be  seen  clearly  exposed." 

"First  of  all  examine  the  liver.  To  l)e  perfectly  healthy,  it 
should  be  of  a  rich  chocolate  brown  color,  free  from  any  specks, 
anrl  free  from  any  discoloration  f although  there  are  sometimes 
post-mortem  discolorations  at  the  edges,  which  are  ea>il\-  recog- 
nizable). If  the  liver  contains  any  specks  it  is  unhealthy,  as 
it  should  not  be  what  is  known  as  pasty  or  rotten.  I  lealthy  and 
firm  to  the  touch  and  of  the  pro])er  color,  is  the  general  descrip- 
tion to  appl\-  to  the  liver.  The  heart  should  then  be  looked  at, 
and  it  should  aUo  l)e  (|uite  lirni.  free  from  any  excessive  cover- 
ing of  fat.  and   also  (|uite    free   from   little  ni>hdes  :>\   tubercu- 


26  rOl'LTRV    DISEASES    AND    Til  KIR    TREATMENT. 

losis.  Anoihcr  thing  about  ilic  heart  is  that  it  should  be  even 
lobcil — that  is  to  say.  it  should  not  be  distended  on  one  side  and 
empty  on  the  other;  if  it  be  so.  the  probability  is  that  the  bird 
has  died  from  heart  failure,  and  supposing  it  is  known  that  the 
bird  did  die  suddenly,  this  can  at  once  be  accepted  as  the  cause — 
syncope,  failure  of  the  heart's  action,  which  always  ends  in  very 
sudden  deatli.  the  bird  simply  dropping  down  dead  without  any 
warning.  The  lungs,  which  will  be  seen  on  either  side  at  the 
back  of  the  heart,  are  spongy  looking  bodies  of  a  pink  color. 
If  a  piece  of  one  of  the  lungs  can  be  cut  ofif  and  be  placed  in  a 
bowl  of  water  it  should  float,  not  sink,  or  it  will  be  unhealthy. 
Always  look  at  the  lungs  for  tuberculosis,  which  is  usually  to  be 
detected  there.*  and  is  indicated  by  little  cheesy  nodules  in  the 
substance  of  the  lungs,  which  cannot  possibly  be  mistaken ;  some- 
times the  lungs  and  the  heart  will  all  be  eaten  by  these  tuber- 
culous masses.  If  no  disease  has  been  found  so  far.  proceed  to 
examine  the  crop  and  the  gullet,  also  the  windpipe.  With  re- 
gard to  the  crop,  it  might  almost  be  examined  first  if  it  is  full 
of  food,  and  apparently  in  a  state  of  congestion,  to  see  whether 
there  be  a  stoppage  in  the  opening  from  the  crop  to  the  pro- 
ventricle.  The  gullet  and  windpipe  can  also  be  examined  to  see 
if  there  is  anything  unhealthy  about  them.  Similarly  an  exam- 
ination can  then  be  made  of  the  intestines,  and  in  the  case  of  a 
hen  the  egg  organs  can  be  carefully  dissected  to  see  whether 
there  is  a  broken  egg.  or  whether  any  egg  substance  has  escaped 
into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen  and  set  up  inflammation." 

"There  is  no  difficultv  about  making  an  examination  of  the 
skull,  and  the  amateur  with  a  little  practice  will  very  easily  be 
able  to  do  this.  The  way  to  set  about  it  is  to  start  at  one  corner 
of  the  moutli.  and  witli  a  pair  of  sharp  pointed  scissors  cut 
around  the  skull  to  the  other  corner  of  the  mouth ;  it  will  then 
be  quite  an  easy  matter  to  lift  up  the  skull  from  the  back,  and 
the  brain  will  Ijc  clearly  seen.  This  should  be  perfectly  clear, 
and  if  there  be  any  trace  of  a  slight  effusion  of  blood,  it  will  be 
positive  evidence  of  an  apoplectic  seizure,  and  will  confirm  the 
symptoms  of  apoplex}-.  w  hicli  are  delirium,  resulting,  after  a  few 
hours  or  a  few  days  helplessness,  in  death.     These,  then,  are 


*  This  is  usually  not  the  case  (see  below  p.  62).  This  writer  has 
probably  mistaken  aspergillosis  lesions  of  the  lungs  for  those  of  tuber- 
culosis.    Note    added   by    compiler. 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  27 

the  principal  points,  and  any  amateur  can  make  a  simple  matter- 
of-fact  examination  such  as  has  been  described,  very  often  with 
considerable  satisfaction  to  himself." 

In  order  to  get  tlie  benefit  of  the  descriptions  given  in  tliis 
book  oi  tlic  post-mortem  appearances  of  organs  in  various  dis- 
eases, the  poultryman  should  proceed  as  follows.  If  the  liver, 
for  example,  of  a  dead  bird  appears  to  be  abnormal,  look  up  in 
the  index  of  this  book  the  entry  "Post-iiiortciii  appearance  of."^ 
Under  tliis  will  be  found  a  heading  "liver,"  followed  by  the  page 
numbers  40,  47,  49  to  56,  61,  68,  113,  115,  121,  188.  194. 
This  means  that  on  each  one  of  the  pages  listed  will 
be  found  a  description  of  the  post-mortem  condition  of 
the  liver  in  a  bird  dying  of  some  particular  disease.  Similar 
entries  are  made  for  other  organs.  In  this  way  the  post-mortem 
examination  may  be  made  to  aid  directly  and  quickly  in  the 
diagnosis  of  disease. 


CllAl'TER    I\' 


Poultry   ^Fatkria   AIedica. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  chapter  to  give  an  account  of  the 
<h-ugs  and  remedies  which  the  poultryman  will  find  it  well  to 
be  supplied  with;  (Hrections  for  making  various  solutions;  tables 
oi  weights  and  measures  and  the  like. 

Tin;    MEDICINE    CHEST. 

The  following  drugs  and  medicines  will  be  found  useful  to 
have  at  hand. 

Calomel  (subchloride  of  mercury). — "This  is  a  very  useful 
alterative  medicine  for  fowls,  i  grain  pills  frequently  having  a 
good  effect  on  the  liver.  When  given  it  should  be  followed  in 
two  hours  by  a  dose  of  castor  oil.  Some  authorities  oppose  the 
use  of  mercury  in  any  form  for  poultry,  but  there  have  been 
numerous  cases  when  it  has  produced  good  results."  (Brad- 
shaw.) 

Cavcjinc. — 'Ts  considered  to  Ijc  an  excellent  liver  stimulant 
when  given  in  small  quantities.  In  cases  of  colds  it  is  also  use- 
ful, and  forms  one  of  the  ingredients  in  the  spices  so  much  used 
to  stimulate  winter  laying."      (Bradshaw.) 

Catechu. — ^"Tn  powder  or  tincture  form,  in  combination  with 
powdered  chalk,  is  a  good  remedy  for  diarrhea.  The  average 
dose  of  powdered  catechu  is  from  2  to  5  grains,  and  of  the  tinc- 
ture from  2  to  5  drops."     (Bradshaw.) 

Castor  oil. — '"Although  apparently  ]:)aradoxical.  this  is  one  of 
the  best  remedies  for  (Harrliea.  The  latter  is  frequently  due  to 
some  foetid  matter  in  the  intestines;  a  dose  of  oil  \\ill  usually 
remove  this,  and  often  diminish  the  diarrhea.  It  is  also  used 
in  cases  of  crop-l)ound  fowls.  A  teaspoonful  poured  down  the 
throat,  and  the  mass  kneaded  with  the  fingers,  and  then  warm 
water  jxnired  down  will  soften  tlie  matter,  and  frec|uently  effect 
a  cure."      (  Uradshaw.  ) 

Epsom  salts  (magnesium  >ul[)hate). — "Is  one  of  the  simplest, 
cheapest,  and  most  efTective  poultry-yard  drugs.     It  is  useful  in 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  29 

liver  disease,  dianlu-a.  and  many  otlier  complaints.  Half  a 
teaspoonful  for  a  full-grown  fowl  is  a  standard  dose.  It  can 
be  mixed  in  the  soft  food,  but  is  more  efifective  by  starving  the 
fowl  for  a  few  hours,  dissolving  the  salts  in  warm  water,  and 
pouring-  it  down  the  bird's  tliroat.  Epsom  salts  always  act  best 
acct)mpanied  with  a  good  quantit}-  of  w'ater."      (Bradshaw.) 

The  following  table  of  doses  of  Epsom  salts  for  young  birds 
has  been  worked  out  by  Gage  and  Op]XM-man  : 


A(;e  OF  HUM..  "^""'v  r J''%i^""'  llcw  Administered. 


1  10  r,  weeks  10  grains  1    In  feeil 

In  feed 
In  feetl 
(  Two  teaspofmlul  of  water 
'     to    everv    30,    40    or    oO 


5  to  10  weeks  7 15  grains 

10  to  15  weeks 20  grains 


15  weeks  to  6  months.  30  grains 

6  months  to  1  year 35  grains 


1  year  and  over 40-.50  grains 


grains  of  salt. 


Cotton  Seed  Oil. — "Olive  and  salad  oils  are  useful  wdien  hens 
are  egg-bound,  for  diarrhea,  and  also  for  external  use  in  dress- 
ing torn  combs  and  other  wounds.  In  eye  troul)les  it  takes  the 
place  of  a  simple  lotion."      (Bradshaw.) 

Bichloride  of  mercury,  i  to  1000  solnfion. — To  make  this  the 
simplest  way  is  to  buy  of  the  druggist  bichloride  of  mercury 
tablets,  and  ask  him  to  label  the  box  to  show  how  much  w-ater 
a  tablet  must  be  dissolved  in  to  make  a  i  to  looo  solution.  If 
one  desires  to  mix  it  up  for  himself  ask  the  druggist  to  make 
up  some  I  gram  (15^  grain)  pow^ders  of  bichloride  of  mer- 
cury. Dissolve  I  of  these  powders  in  a  c|uart  of  water.  Put 
in  enough  laundry  bluing  so  that  the  color  will  be  deep  blue. 
Then  the  solution,  which  is  highly  poi.sonous.  wdll  never  be  mis- 
taken for  water. 

"I  to  1000  bichloride"  is  a  germicide  and  disinfectant  for 
external  use,  cleansing  wounds  and  the  like. 

Medicines  in  Tablet  Form. — One  of  the  most  convenient 
forms  in  which  medicines  may  be  administered  is  in  tablets. 
\Miolesale  and  mail-order  drug  houses  carry  extensive  lines  of 
these  graded  as  to  dosage.  They  may  l)e  administered  to  poul- 
trv  verv  easilv  and  convenientlv  bv  holding  the  bird's  mouth 
open  with  one  hand  and  with  the  other  thrusting  the  tablet  far 
enough  back  in  the  throat  so  it  will  be  swallow-ed. 

The  following  list  of  tablets  will  be  found  useful  to  the  poul- 
trvman.     Thev  fairlv  well  cover  the  medicines  recommended  in 


30  rori/iRv  diseases  and  their  treatment. 

the  body  of  this  book.  Any  poultryiiiati  may  get  these  either 
from  his  local  <lrn,<j:.i,Mvt.  <>r  if  he  cannot  furnisli  them,  they  can 
be  purchased  b)  mail  at  approximately  the  prices  named  from 
The  Frank  S.  I'.etz  Co.,  Hammond,  Indiana. 

Price 
per  looo 

Salicylic  acid,  2^/^  gr /O 

(For  use  in  rheumatism.) 

Aconite  root,  i-io  gr 5° 

(For  use  in  fevers.) 
Antiseptic  tablets,  Blue,  Corrosive  sublimate. 
7.3    grs. ;    Ammonium    chloride,    y./     gr. 
Price,  35c.  per  100. 

(For  making  i  to  1000  bichloride  solu- 
tion. One  tablet  dissolved  in  i  pint  of 
water  gives  a  solution  of  that  strength.) 

Bismuth  subnitrate,   i  gr 80 

(For  intestinal  irritation.) 

Calomel,  }i  gr 4° 

Iron,  Quinine  and  Strychnine 80 

(For  use  as  a  tonic,  dose  3  per  day.) 
In  administering  tablets  in  the  manner  suggested  care  should 
be  taken  to  see  that  they  are  swallowed,  and  not  coughed  up. 

AN    ANTISEPTIC    OINTMENT    FOR    USE    ON    CUTS    AND    WOUNDS    OF 

ALL    KINDS. 

The  following  ointment  may  be  made  up  by  the  poultry-man 
and  will  be  found  useful  in  the  treatment  of  cuts,  sores  and 
wounds  of  all  kinds  of  poultry  and  stock  in  general. 

Oil  of  origanum i  oz. 

Cresol    -M  oz. 

Pine  tar    i   oz. 

Resin   i   oz. 

Clean  axle  grease   8  oz. 

Melt  the  axle  grease  and  resin  and  stir  in  the  other  ingredi- 
ents. Pour  ofif  in  a  tin  box  or  can  to  cool.  In  making  this,  clean 
axle  grease  from  a  freshly  opened  can  should  be  used. 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREAT iMENT.  3 1 

TABLES    OF    APOTHECARIES    WEIGHTS    AND    MEASURES    AND    THEIR 

METRIC   EQUIVALENTS. 

APOTHECAKIKS    WEIGHTS. 

I'ounil    Ouiict's  (Trov)     Disiclims    Scruples    Grains    Grams. 

1      =      12  ■  =        90        =      288      =    .57(50  =  87^.23 

1  z=  8        =        24      =     480  =    31.10 

1        =  3      =       GO  =      3.y 

1      =       20  =      1.30 

A I 'I  >T1  [  K(  AIM  I':S   MEASURE. 

Gallon    Pints    Fluidounces    Fluidraclims     Minims    Cub.  cm 

1=8=  128  =  1024         =    (U440  =  378.5.00 

1  =     16    =     128    =   7680  =  473.11 

1    =      8    =   480  =   29.57 

1    =    G0=   3.75 

COMMON   MEASURE. 

A  I  en  cup  is  estimated  to  bold  about  4  fluidounces,  one  gill. 
A'iifiiieijlass  "        "         "  "     2      " 

\1\1(iblesp<)(in  ' "    J      "        '■ 

A  ii'dspooH  "    I'fluidraclim . 


CHAPTER    \' 


Diseases  of  the  Alimentary  Tract. 

The  arraniiviiKMit  of  the  (Hgcstivc  organs  in  birds  differs  from 
that  in  other  domestic  animals  in  that  the  mastication  of  the 
food  does  not  take  i)lacc  in  the  mouth.  The  food  of  birds,  con- 
sisting mainly  of  grains  and  seeds,  is  swallowed  whole  into  the 
cro]).  It  remains  here  until  it  is  completely  softened  by  the 
juices  secreted  by  this  organ.  The  food  then  passes  into  the 
stomach  (provcntriculus )  where  it  is  mixed  with  still  other 
juices,  and  then  into  the  gizzard.  The  muscular  walls  of  the 
gizzard  grind  the  softened  food  against  the  small  pebbles  (grit) 
which  the  bird  picks  up,  until  it  becomes  a  paste.  This  paste  is 
then  passed  into  the  intestines  and  mixed  with  the  secretions 
from  the  liver,  pancreas  and  the  intestines  themselves.  The 
nutritive  elements  of  the  food  are  transferred  through  the  intes- 
tinal walls,  by  means  of  the  activity  of  the  cells  composing  these 
walls,  into  the  blood  and  are  carried  to  various  parts  of  the 
animal  to  be  used  in  building  up  the  tissues. 

In  the  wild  state  birds  are  forced  to  hunt  for  their  own  food. 
They  go  about  gathering  in  a  few  seeds  here  and  there  but 
probably  at  no  time  is  the  crop  overloaded.  Under  conditions 
of  domestication  the  birds  are  fed  only  once  or  twice  a  day  and 
thus  the  crop  is  often  gorged  with  a  day's  supply  of  food. 
Further  the  lack  of  sufficient  grit,  lack  of  exercise  and  the  feed- 
ing of  rich,  soft  mashes  cause  the  birds  to  be  predisposed  to- 
wards indigestion.  Under  these  conditions  poultry  are  subject 
to  a  large  number  of  disorders  of  the  digestive  system. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    CROP. 

Impacted  Crop   {Crop  Bound). 

In  general  two  immediate  causes  may  be  given  for  birds  be- 
coming crop  bound.  ( i  )  The  thin  muscular  walls  may  be  para- 
lyzed either  through  over-distention  with  dry  grain  or  through 
some  disease,  as  cholera  and  diphtheria.      (2)  The  opening  into 


POULTKV    DISEASES    AND    TUIvlK    TKl-ATMlvNT.  33 

the  lower  portion  of  the  tesophagus  may  become  clogged  Ijy  long 
straws,  feathers  or  other  substances.  In  either  case  the  crop 
fails  to  empty  itself  while  the  bird  continues  to  eat  until  the 
crop  is  greatly  distended  and  packed  solid. 

Impacted  crop  is  a  common  disease  of  poultry.  A  large 
number  of  things  have  been  assigned  as  a  cause  for  this  trouble. 
It  is  probable  that  the  real  cause  lies  in  low  vitality  due  to  im- 
proper feeding  and  indigestion.  On  this  point  Robinson  says: 
"We  say  that  the  dry  hay  the  fowl  may  take  into  the  crop 
causes  impaction,  but  the  fact  is  that  it  is  only  in  occasional 
instances  that  it  does  cause  impaction.  Far  oftener  the  fowl 
eats  (h-y  hay  or  corn  fodder  till  its  crop  is  bulging,  and  is  never 
seen  to  be  at  all  the  w^orse  for  it.  I  have  seen  this  so  often, 
that  though  an  occasional  case  of  impacted  crop  might  properly 
be  attributed  directly  to  the  overloading  of  the  crop,  the  occur- 
rence of  a  number  of  such  cases  in  a  flock  at  about  the  same 
time,  would  suggest  that  the  real  cause  was  indigestion,  or  weak 
digestion.  I  have  repeatedly  given  fowls,  which  all  their  lives 
had  been  handled  to  make  and  keep  digestive  organs  in  first 
class  condition,  all  other  conditions  for  developing  cases  of 
impacted  crops,  but  have  never  been  able  to  get  a  case  that 
way." 

Treatment. — Tf  a  large  number  of  crop  bound  birds  occur  in 
a  flock,  it  should  be  taken  as  a  sign  that  something  is  w^rong  in 
the  management.  Measures  should  be  taken  to  correct  errors 
in  feeding  and  thus  give  the  birds  a  more  vigorous  digestion. 
In  such  epidemics  other  evidences  of  indigestion  are  usually 
present  and  the  particular  treatment  of  the  flock  will  depend 
largely  on  these  other  symptoms.  In  general  the  birds  should 
not  be  fed  too  much  at  any  one  time  and  they  should  l)e  encour- 
aged to  take  as  mucli  exercise  as  possible,  and  should  have  plenty 
of  green  food. 

When  a  crop  bound  bird  is  found  it  must  be  treated  indi- 
vidually. Treatment  in  such  individual  cases  is  quite  often  suc- 
cessful. The  profitableness  of  such  treatment  must  be  decided 
by  every  poultryman  for  himself.  If  the  crop  bound  condition 
is  discovered  and  treated  at  the  beginn'uuj  of  the  trouble  the 
bird  will  usually  recover  quickly  and  may  make  a  ]:)rofitable 
fowl.  On  the  other  hand  if  the  condition  has  liecome  chronic 
the  vitality  of  the  bird  is  greatly  lowered.     In  tliis  latter  case 


34  POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

it  may  recover  hut  it  will  1)C  a  long  time  before  it  will  repay 
the  owner  for  his  trouble  and  feed. 

If  swelled  grain  is  the  cause  of  the  impaction  the  hirrl  may 
often  be  successfully  treated  without  an  operation.  In  this  case 
first  give  the  bird  a  tablespoonful  of  castor  oil.  After  allowing 
this  a  little  time  to  work  into  the  crop  begin  to  knead  the  hard 
mass.  After  this  mass  has  been  softened  hold  the  bird  with 
head  downward  and  attempt  to  work  the  grain  out  through  the 
mouth.  If  unsuccessful  in  this  or  if  the  impaction  is  due  to 
clogging  with  straw  or  other  material  it  will  be  necessary  to 
open  the  crop. 

The  following  method  for  this  operation  is  given  by  Sanborn 
(Farm  Poultry  Doctor)  :  "If  someone  can  hold  the  bird  for 
you  it  will  make  the  operation  easier.  Pluck  out  a  few  feathers 
and  then  cut  through  the  skin  over  the  crop  a  line  about  i  inch 
long.  This  cut  should  be  in  the  median  line  of  the  body.  Then 
make  an  incision  ^4  oi  an  inch  long  through  the  crop.  The 
distention  of  the  crop  will  cause  the  opening  to  gape,  and  the 
mass  will  be  in  plain  sight.  With  toothpicks,  blunt  pointed  scis- 
sors, tweezers,  or  similar  tools,  take  out  the  contents  of  the  crop. 
This  done" run  the  finger  into  the  crop  and  make  sure  tliat  there 
is  nothing  remaining  to  obstruct  the  outlet  to  the  organ.  When 
sure  all  is  right,  take  3  or  4  stitches  in  the  opening  in  the  crop, 
making  each  stitch  by  itself  and  tying  a  knot  that  will  not  slip. 
Then  do  the  same  thing  to  the  cut  in  the  skin.  For  stitches  use 
white  silk  (or  if  nothing  better  can  be  obtained)  common  cotton 
thread,  number  60.  Keep  the  bird  by  itself  for  a  w^eek.  feeding 
.soft  food." 

The  above  operation  is  not  a  difficult  one  and  is  usually  suc- 
cessful. Care  should  be  exercised  to  have  the  hands  and  instru- 
ments thoroughly  clean.  After  the  contents  of  the  crop  have 
been  removed  the  wound  and  the  empty  crop  itself  should  be 
thoroughly  washed  out  with  clean,  w^arm  (108°  to  110°  F.) 
water.  The  edges  of  the  skin  wound  should  be  well  greased 
with  vaseline.  It  is  well  to  feed  the  bird  only  milk  for  the  first 
day  or  two. 

Inflammation  of  the  Crop. 
Inllammation  or  catarrh  of  the  crop  usually  accompanies  more 
01  less  general  disturbances  of  the  digestive  system.     As  a  result 
of  the  irritated  condition  of  the  mucous  membrane  the  functions 


POULTRY    DISKASKS    AND    TlIl'.lK    TKI'.AT  M  I'NT.  35 

of  the  crop  arc  disturbed  or  arrested.  It  is  said  to  be  caused 
by  eating  indigestible,  decayed,  or  poisonotis  food.  "The  foods 
and  substances  specially  mentioned  as  causing  inflammation  of 
the  crop  are:  Decomposed  meats  and  putrid  foods  of  any  kind, 
unslaked  lime,  paint  skins,  rat  poison,  excessive  use  of  condi- 
ments and  spices,  milled  by-products  containing  too  large  pro- 
portions of  hulls  or  other  indigestible  fibrous  particles.  Salmon 
notes  that  it  may  result  from  the  presence  of  worms  in  the  crop, 
and  that  it  occurs  as  a  complication  with  thrush,  diphtheria,  and 
cholera.  It  also  octurs  frequently  with  gastritis."  (Robm- 
son.) 

Diagnosis. — "The  most  prominent  symptom  is  distention  of 
the  crop,  and  on  examination  the  swelling  is  found  to  be  soft 
and  due  to  accumulated  liquid  or  gas,  mixed  with  more  or  less 
food.  The  birds  arc  dull,  indisposed  to  move,  and  there  is 
belching  of  gas,  loss  of  appetite  and  weakness.  Sometimes  there 
is  nausea  and  the  affected  bird  attempts  to  vomit.  Pressure 
upon  the  crop  causes  the  expulsion  through  the  mouth  of  liquid 
and  gas  having  an  offensive  odor  due  to  fermentation."  (Sal- 
mon.) 

Treatment. — The  first  step  in  the  treatment  of  this  disea.se  is 
to  empty  the  crop  as  completely  as  possible.  This  can  be  done 
by  holding  the  bird  head  downward  and  carefully  pressing  and 
kneading  the  crop.  After  most  of  the  contents  have  been  ex- 
pelled in  this  way  give  the  bird  several  spoonsful  of  lukewarm 
water  and  then  empty  the  crop  as  before.  Give  a  slight  purga- 
tive such  as  a  small  teaspoonful  of  castor  oil.  The  bird  should 
be  kept  without  food  for  12  to  20  hours  and  then  fed  sparingly 
on  soft,  easily  digested  material.  Salmon  recommends  giving 
2  grains  of  subnitrate  of  bismuth  and  Y^  grain  of  bicarbonate  of 
soda  in  a  teaspoonful  of  water  to  relieve  irritation  and  to  correct 
acidity.  Salicylic  acid,  i  grain  to  an  ounce  of  water,  is  also  recom- 
mended. The  dose  is  2  to  3  teaspoonfuls.  II ill  recommends 
the  feeding  of  mucilaginous  fluids  such  as  barlex-water.  thin 
solution  of  gum,  etc.  ]f  the  inflammation  is  i\\\Q  to  eating  poi- 
sons antidotes  as  given  farther  on  (Chapter  W)  should  be  used. 

If  inflammation  of  the  crop  is  at  all  general  throughout  the 
f!ock  an  effort  should  be  made  to  remove  the  cause.  It  is  well 
to  change  tlie  feed  and  give  the  birds  more  exercise.  The  addi- 
tion of  fine  charcoal  (small  chick  size")  to  the  mash  will  of  en  be 
of  service,  as  the  birds  cat  more  of  it  in  this  way  than  when  the 
charcoal  is  in  a  box  bv  itself. 


36  I'Ori.TUV    DISKASKS    AND    THlvIK    TREATMENT. 

Enlarged  Crop. 

"The  crop  sometimes  becomes  very  nuuli  cnl:irgc'(l  and  promi- 
nent, but  Iianyinij  loosely,  not  bul^iinL;  and  bard,  as  in  impaction 
of  the  crop.  This  form  of  permanent  enlargement  and  (Hsplace- 
ment  is  calKd  cnlari^cd  crop,  slack  crop,  or  pendulous  crop.  It 
may  exist  with  little  inconvenience  and  detriment  to  the  fowl.' 
(Robinson.) 

According  to  Sanborn  the  cause  of  this  is  irregular  feeding 
resulting  in  overloading.  Robinson,  however,  says  that  while 
"this  may  be  the  cause  in  a  great  many  cases,  yet  it  can  hardly 
be  the  sole  cause,  for  cases  of  slack  crop  are  not  infrequently 
found  in  fowls  that  have  been  well  and  regularly  fed.  If  a 
fowl  is  fed  heavily,  and  from  any  cause  (as  indigestion)  the 
crop  remains  full  and  distended  too  long,  though  this  condition 
may  in  time  be  relieved  in  the  natural  way  without  interference 
of  tile  keeper,  the  efifect  on  the  crop  is  the  same  as  if  the  over- 
loading had  occurred  because  of  irregular  feeding.  If  this  con- 
dition is  repeated  several  times  the  walls  of  the  crop  become  in 
some  degree  permanently  distended." 

An  enlarged  crop  and  an  enlarged  or  "baggy"  abdomen  are 
frequently  associated  in  the  same  bird.  These  are  probably  due 
to  too  heavy  feeding  without  sufificient  intervals  between  meals 
and  without  sufficient  exercise. 

Treatment. — As  stated  above,  a  '"baggy"  crop  often  gives  little 
or  no  apparent  inconvenience  to  the  fowl.  In  the  case  of  a  very 
valuable  bird  it  might  be  worth  wdiile  to  operate.  Sanborn  states 
that  this  defect  can  be  remedied  by  cutting  out  of  the  enlarged 
portion  of  the  crop  a  diamond  or  oval  shaped  piece  of  tissue 
about  2  inches  long  and  i  inch  wide.  The  edges  should  be 
sewed  together  and  treated  as  directed  for  impacted  crop.  (Cf. 
p.  34).  The  general  surgical  methods  described  in  the  chapter 
on  Poultry  Surgery  (Chap'ter  XX)   should  be  followed. 

DISEASES   OF   THE    STOMACH    (PROVENTRICULUS). 

Inflammation  of  tlic  Stomach — Gastritis. 

The  stomach  or  proventriculus  in  fowls  is  a  rather  small  or- 
gan. It  is  a  thick,  glandular  walled  section  of  the  alimentary 
canal  lying  between  the  crop  and  the  gizzard.  Inflammation  of 
this  organ  is  usually  associated  with  a  similar  disturbance  of  the 


POULTRY    DISKASES    AND    TIIF.IK    TKKATMENT.  37 

crop.  In  a  few  cases  there  appears  to  be  innammation  of  the 
stomach  alone.     Diagnosis  in  this  case  is  very  difficult. 

The  cause  of  gastritis  is  usually  regarded  as  the  same  as  that 
of  inflamation  of  the  crop  (cf.  p.  34). 

Diagnosis. — In  general  the  symptoms  are  very  similar  to  those 
in  cases  of  inflamation  of  the  crop  (see  p.  34)-  The  birds 
present  the  general  appearance  of  being  sick,  viz.,  loss  of  appe- 
tite, indisposition  to  move  and  roughness  of  plumage.  Con- 
stipation quite  often  accompanies  gastritis.  However,  if  the 
inflammation  extends  to  the  intestines  there  may  be  diarrhea. 

Treatment.— "U  the  disease  is  identified  in  its  early  stages, 
seek  for  its  cause  and  endeavor  to  overcome  it  by  removing  the 
cause.  Change  the  ration  and  give  more  easily  digested  food 
with  some  meat.  Feed  regularly,  often,  and  a  small  quantity 
at  a  time.  Give  some  cooked  food  with  barley  water  or  milk 
for  drink,  or  put  20  grains  of  bicarbonate  of  soda  to  a  quart  of 
drinking  water.  In  severe  cases  give  2  grains  of  subnitrate  of 
bismuth  3  times  a  day  in  a  teaspoonful  of  w^ater.  Counteract 
constipation  with  Epsom  salts  (20  grains)  or  castor  oil  (one 
teaspoonful)  once  a  day  as  long  as  may  be  necessary."  (Sal- 
mon.) 

"Give  rice  water  for  drink,  soft  mash  made  with  tlic  water 
in  which  clover  hay  has  been  cooked.  Arsenite  of  copper,  ^ 
grain  to  each  quart  of  the  rice  water  (drink)  will  do  for  medi- 
cinal treatment."      (Sanborn.) 

As  Robinson  points  out  the  important  thing  in  treating  this 
disease  is  to  change  the  food  in  so  far  at  least  as  to  remove  the 
cause  of  the  trouble.  jNIcdical  treatment  without  the  removal 
of  the  original  cause  will  be  of  little  avail.  The  addition  of  fine 
(chick  size)  charcoal  to  the  mash  and  the  generous  use  of  good 
green  food  are  recommended. 

DISEASES   OE   THE    INTESTINES. 

Simple  Diarrhea. 

In  many  fowls  a  condition  of  mild  diarrhea  is  chronic  through- 
out the  life  time  of  the  bird.  Again  l)irds  often  acquire  a  slight 
diarrhea  which  will  last  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  but  never 
becoming  severe.  In  either  of  these  cases  the  bird  shows  no 
symptoms  of  disease  other  than  the  watery  droppings.  No 
doubt  such  attacks  are  in  some  degree  detrimental  to  the  best 


38  IMLI.TUV    DISUASKS    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT. 

health  of  the  hird.  In  most  cases  of  this  simple  dianlua  the 
Imd  will  recover  without  any  treatment.  Nevertheless  the  care- 
ful poultryman  will  watch  his  dropping  hoards  for  sis;ns  of 
"looseness."  When  such  are  found  in  any  (|uantity  the  methods 
of  feedin.!^-  and  li^using  should  l)e  carefully  examined  to  sec  if 
the  cause  does  not  lie  in  them. 

Concerning  the  normal  droppings  of  fowls.  Koljinson  says: 
" Normally  the  droppings  of  fowls  are  rather  dry.  retain  the 
shape  in  which  they  are  voided,  and  may  readily  he  removed, 
leaving  the  spot  on  which  they  had  fallen  cither  .slightly  stained, 
or  not  at  all." 

Further,  about  1-3  of  the  normal  droppings  consists  of  a  whit- 
ish substance.  This  is  the  uric  acid  and  urates  excreted  by  the 
kidnevs  and  is  removed  fnnn  the  cloaca  along  with  the  feces. 

"Without  marked  departure  from  the  normal,  droppings  may 
be  wet — watery— with  a  tendency  to  flatten  on  the  surface  on 
which  they  rest.  On  boards  they  moisten  the  surface  for  some 
distance  aroimd  them.  *  *  *  It  is  perha])s  most  appro- 
priately described  as  "looseness."  It  is  not  diarrhea,  though 
fowls  having  it  are  probably  more  susceptible  to  intestinal  dis- 
eases than  others.  Mere  looseness  of  the  bowels  is  not  accom- 
panied by  any  offensive  odor. 

"When  the  excrement  becomes  soft  and  pasty  or  liquid  in 
consistency  and  whitish,  yellowdsh,  greenish  or  brownish  in 
color,  and  has  a  more  or  less  marked  offensive  odor,  the  con- 
dition is  properly  described  as  diarrhea.  The  evacuations  in 
diarrhea  are  often  of  such  consistency  that  the  water  in  them 
is  not  readily  taken  up  by  absorbents  with  which  they  come  in 
contact,  and  they  are  decidedly  nasty,  not  only  adhering  to- 
utensils  used  in  removing  them,  and  making  ordinary  cleaning 
difihcult.  Ijut  soiling  the  feathers  of  the  fowls  and  sticking  to 
roosts,  nests  and  feed  troughs."      (Robinson.) 

Diarrhea  may  result  simply  from  an  upsetting  of  the  digestive 
organs  due  to  improper  feeding  or  it  may  be  a  symptom  of  some 
more  serious  disease.  Simple  diarrhea  may  arise  from  the  pres- 
ence of  indigestible  matter  in  the  alimentary  canal,  it  may  be 
due  to  exposure  to  heav)-  rains  or  to  draughts  in  the  roosting 
house.  In  the  latter  cases  a  cold  develops  which  affects  the 
bowels  rather  than  the  head  and  lungs.  Diarrhea  from  colds 
occurs  much  more  frequently  than  is  generally  supposed.    This 


POULTRY    niSKASKS    AND    Til  KIR    TRKAT.M  ENT.  39 

form  of  diarrhea  can  often  be  recognized  by  the  greater  amount 
of  frothy  mucus  in  the  excrement.  Young  stock  are  much  more 
susceptible  to  diarrhea  from  colds  than  are  adult  birds. 

Among  other  common  causes  of  simple  diarrhea  may  be  men- 
tioned soured  or  decomposing  food,  too  much  green  food  at 
irregular  times,  too  free  use  of  animal  food,  allowing  the  birds 
access  to  water  which  has  become  soiled  with  excrement  and 
allowed  to  stand  in  the  hot  sun  until  about  putrid.  Whatever 
may  be  the  inducing  factor  the  immediate  cause  is  excessive 
bacterial  fermentation  in  the  alimentary  canal. 

Treatment — Simple  diarrhea  will  usually  require  no  treatment 
other  than  removing  the  original  cause.  This  latter  is  by  far  the 
more  important  thing  to  be  done.  If  neglected  the  condition 
may  become  chronic  and  may  result  in  more  serious  disturbances 
of  the  alimentary  system.  It  is  often  beneficial  to  replace  part 
of  the  bran  in  the  mash  with  middlings  or  low  grade  flour. 
Where  in  addition  medical  treatment  seems  desirable  the  first 
thing  to  do  is  to  remove  the  fermenting  material  from  the  intes- 
tinal canal.  This  can  be  done  with  Epsom  salts,  using  a  small 
half  teaspoonful  to  each  bird.  This  should  be  dissolved  in  water 
and  used  to  mix  the  mash.  If  more  convenient  a  teaspoonful 
of  castor  oil  may  be  given  each  bird.  If  the  diarrhea  is  per- 
sistent Hill  recommends  3  to  6  drops  of  chlorodyne  as  an  unfail- 
ing cure. 

E  n  teritis — Dysen  tery . 

For  practical  purposes  we  may  associate  most  of  the  severer 
forms  of  diarrhea  with  the  above  names.  Simple  diarrhea  was 
defined  as  either  a  temporary  or  chronic  affection  of  the  intes- 
tines from  which  the  bird  appeared  to  suflfer  but  little.  Prac- 
tically its  only  symptom  is  the  watery  or  discolored  discharge. 
Under  the  names  of  enteritis,  dysentery  or  severe  diarrhea  there 
are  listed  several  of  the  more  serious  infections  of  the  intestines. 
From  the  medical  standpoint  enteritis  is  the  name  given  to  afifec- 
tions  of  the  small  intestines  while  dysentery  is  applied  to  the 
disease  in  the  large  intestine.  The  latter  is  usually  accompanied 
by  mucous  and  bloody  discharges.  In  the  diseases  of  poultry, 
however,  it  is  hardly  necessary  for  anyone  other  than  a  patholo- 
gist to  distinguish  jjetwcn  these  different  forms. 

Etiology. — A  variety  of  causes  are  responsible  for  these  more 
acute  forms  of  intestinal  trouble.     It  may  be  a  bacterial  infec- 


40  POUU'RV    DISKASKS    AND    THEIR    TREATMKNT. 

tion  coming  from  filthy  conditions.  Foul  drinking  water,  putrid 
meat  or  decaying  food  of  any  sort  may  be  predisposing  causes. 
Toxic  enteritis  or  poisoning  is  caused  l)y  the  birds  eating  such 
things  as  paint  skins,  lye,  unslaked  lime,  salt,  ergot  of  rye, 
arsenic  and  copper  (in  spraying  mixtures)  (cf.  p.  44).  Fur- 
ther simple  diarrhea  may  develop  into  the  more  acute  form. 
This  latter  is  due  to  improper  food,  water  or  housing,  and  is 
probably  closely  associated  with  bacterial  enteritis.  Various  in- 
testinal parasites  may  cause  severe  diarrhea. 

Diagnosis. — It  is  often  very  difficult  to  distinguish  between 
the  different  infections  of  the  intestines  in  the  living  birds. 
Woods  (Reliable  Poultry  Journal)  gives  the  following  symp- 
toms of  enteritis:  "The  affected  bird  is  inactive  and  dumpish. 
The  comb  is  at  first  pale  and  limp,  and  later  becomes  dark  and 
purplish.  Tiiere  is  an  abundant  dark  or  greenish  diarrhea. 
Diarrhea  may  become  bloody.  The  bird  appears  sleepy  and 
unwilling  to  walk  around.  The  bird  may  be  sick  a  week  or 
several  weeks  before  death  takes  place.  Some  birds  recover 
without  treatment.  The  appetite  may  be  voracious,  or  the  birds 
may  refuse  to  take  food.  The  crop  may  be  full  of  food,  or 
may  contain  only  a  little  slimy  fluid.  When  the  bird  dies,  the 
comb  is  always  dark.  Often  the  bird  may  appear  dumpish  and 
sleepy,  and  show  a  bad  diarrhea;  the  owner,  picking  the  bird 
up  to  examine  it,  finds  it  has  lost  weight ;  holding  it  head  down- 
ward, a  stringy,  dirty  liquid  runs  from  the  mouth,  and  death  of 
the  bird  soon  follows.  In  such  cases,  the  bird  has  been  sick 
several  weeks  before  it  was  noticed.  Examination  of  the  body 
after  death  shows  the  liver  enlarged  or  shrunken,  according  to 
the  duration  of  the  disease.  If  of  long  duration  the  liver  is 
shrunken.  The  spleen  is  usually  enlarged.  The  intestines  are 
inflamed  and  are  full  of  mucus." 

"The  evacuations  may  show  any  or  all  of  the  color  conditions 
commonly  observed  in  cases  of  severe  diarrhea,  watery,  mixed 
watery  and  solid,  whitish,  greenish,  bluish  green,  brown,  red, 
bloody.  Particular  colors  or  conditions  may  represent  the  de- 
gree to  which  different  organs  are  affected,  or  indicate  to  an 
experienced  eye  the  progress  of  the  disease,  but  to  the  layman 
they  have  no  special  significance."      (Robinson.) 

Treatment. — If  possible  the  cause  of  the  trouble  should  be 
ascertained  and  removed.     This  is  by  all  means  the  first  and 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TlIl'.lR    TKKATM  KXT.  4I 

most  important  step  to  take,  it  is  useless  to  spend  valuable 
time  in  doctoring  sick  birds  while  the  conditions  which  gave 
rise  to  the  trouble  are  still  present.  In  bacterial  enteritis  sick 
birds  should  be  removed  from  the  flock  as  soon  as  noticed. 
Houses  and  runs  should  be  cleaned  up  and  disinfected.  Drink- 
ing vessels  and  food  troughs  siiould  be  scalded  daily.  Potas- 
sium permanganate  should  be  used  in  the  drinking  water  (cf. 
p.  16).  ]\Iix  powdered  charcoal  with  the  mash.  Feed  less  bran 
and  more  middlings  in  the  mash.     Do  not  feed  too  heavily. 

After  attending  to  the  above  hygienic  measures  the  birds 
should  be  given  a  good  physic.  A  teaspoon ful  of  Epsom  salts 
to  each  fowl,  dissolved  in  water  and  mixed  in  the  mash,  is  the 
most  convenient  way  of  treating  a  large  numljcr  of  birds.  For 
medical  treatment  Salmon  recommends  one  of  the  following: 

"Subnitrate  of  bismuth,  3  grains;  powdered  cinnamon  or 
cloves,  I  grain ;  powdered  willow  charcoal,  3  grains.  Give  twice 
a  day  mixed  with  food  or  made  into  pills  with  flour  and  water. 

"Subnitrate  of  bismuth,  3  grains ;  bicarbonate  of  soda,  i  grain  ; 
powdered  cinchona  bark,  2  grains;  mix  and  give  3  times  a  day 
in  a  paste  made  with  rice  flour.  When  diarrhea  is  arrested, 
bismuth  and  soda  are  no  longer  needed.  Give  as  a  tonic:  Pow- 
dered fennel,  anise,  coriander,  and  cinchona — each  30  grains ; 
powdered  gentian  and  ginger  each  i  dram,  powdered  sulphate 
of  iron.  15  grains.  Mix  and  give  in  the  feed  so  that  each  fowl 
will  get  2  to  14  grains  twice  a  day." 

Constipation. 

Constipation  occurs  in  adult  fowls  far  less  often  than  diarrhea. 
It  frequently  passes  unnoticed  unless  very  severe.  This  trouble 
is  much  more  common  in  young  stock  than  in  grown  birds.  In 
adult  fowls  it  often  occurs  in  connection  with  indigestion,  gas- 
tritis, or  peritonitis.  ''A  not  infrequent  cause  is  obstruction  of 
the  vent  by  accumulations  of  excrement  on  the  feathers  about 
it  This  is  especially  apt  to  occur  following  looseness  of  the 
bowels  in  fowls,  which  do  not  roost.  Intestinal  worms  also  may 
cause  constipation  by  accumulating  until  their  mass  blocks  the 
passage."      (Robinson.) 

Lack  of  exercise,  or  lack  of  green  food  are  also  occasional 
causes  of  constipation. 


4-'  I'OLXTRV   DISKASKS   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

Tlu'  syiiif'ti'iiis  arc  ])ainful  ami  ineffective  efforts  to  evacuate 
tlic  bowels.  In  llic  wTst  cases  the  vent  becomes  completely 
plugijed  with  ihv.  haiil  feces.  The  birds  appear  (hill,  listless 
and  without  appetite. 

Treatment. — "Adult  fowls  having  constipation  without  ob- 
struction of  the  intestines,  that  is  merely  difficult  movements, 
should  not  require  any  treatment  further  than  in  correcting  con- 
ditions and  diet.  When  the  passage  is  obstructed  the  treatment 
is  according  to  the  location  of  the  obstruction.  If  it  is  at  the 
vent  with  hard  accumulation  about  the  vent  as  well  as  in  the 
intestine,  the  external  accumulation  must  be  removed  first.  This 
is  accomplished  by  soaking  in  warm  water,  \\hich  loosens  the 
attachment  of  the  mass  to  the  skin,  and  separates  it  enough  to 
allow  clipping  the  feathers  about  the  vent  to  which  the  mass 
adheres.  If  the  obstruction  has  filled  the  lower  part  of  the  in- 
testine, there  must  be  more  soaking  with  warm  water  or  soften- 
ing with  olive  or  sweet  oil.  Oil  is  applied  between  the  accumu- 
lated excrement  and  the  skin  by  using  a  small  syringe  or  an  oil 
can  with  very  small  nozzle.  The  process  is  a  tedious  one,  and 
where  the  poultryman's  time  is  valuable  is  unprofitable  except 
in  cases  of  valuable  birds." 

''When  the  obstruction  cannot  be  reached  in  this  way  purga- 
tives must  be  given.  Those  usually  recommendefl  for  fowls, 
are  castor  oil,  Epsom  salts,  and  calomel."      (Robinson.) 

INDIGESTION. 

Birds  frequently  suffer  from  disorders  of  the  digestive  system 
which  are  not  easily  classified  luider  any  of  the  diseases  so  far 
treated.  Simple  indigestion  or  dyspepsia  most  frequently  re- 
sults from  overfeeding  antl  the  feeding  of  ground  grains  and 
meat  without  sufficient  green  food,  are  some  of  the  causes  usvi- 
all}'  i^iven. 

Symptoms. — The  birds  are  dull  and  listless.  They  are  in- 
clined to  sit  on  the  roosts,  and  usually  have  but  little  appetite. 
Occasionally  birds  suffering  from  indigestion  have  an  alinormal 
appetite  and  will  eat  ravenously  quantities  of  foods  which  fur- 
nish but  little  nourishment,  c.  g.,  grit.  Indigestion  is  often  ac- 
companied by  either  constipation  or  diarrhea.  In  the  latter  case 
the  .symptoms  are  similar  to  those  described  under  simple  diar- 
rhea (p.  37). 


POUI/rKV    DISEASES    AND    Til  I- IK    TREATMENT.  43 

Treatment. — In  treating  indigestion  it  is  important  to  observe 
the  general  rules  of  hygiene  (cf.  Chapter  II).  The  house  should 
he  clean  and  as  free  from  dust  as  possible.  Sunshine  should  be 
al)le  to  reach  every  corner  of  the  pens.  The  water  dishes  should 
be  kept  thoroughly  clean  and  the  supply  of  water  should  be  kept 
pure  and  fresh.  Use  potassium  permanganate  in  the  drinking 
water  as  directed  on  p.  i6.  Use  well  balanced  rations  and  feed 
at  regular  hours.  I'ut  fine  (chick  size)  charcoal  into  the  mash 
in  considerable  quantity.  Enough  should  be  used  to  make  the 
mash  decidedly  black.  This  is  a  very  important  measure  for 
the  treatment  of  indigestion.  Give  the  birds  plenty  of  exer- 
cise. A  small  amount  of  a  good  stock  tonic  may  help  to  bring 
the  birds  back  into  proper  vigor.  The  following  formula  (from 
Mq.  Agr.  Expt.  Stat.  Ann.  Rpt.  1896}  has  frequently  been  used 
with  good  success. 

Pulverized  Gentian    i   lb. 

Pulverized  Ginger   ^  lb. 

Pulverized  Saltpeter    }i  lb. 

Pulverized  Iron  Sulphate ^2  lb. 

These  substances  can  be  procured  from  any  drug  store  and 
mixed  by  the  poultryman.  Use  2  to  3  tablespoonsful  of  the 
tonic  to  10  quarts  of  dry  mash. 

Dr.  N.  \V.  Sanborn  (Reliable  Poultry  Remedies)  recommends 
the  following  treatment  for  indigestion:  "If  for  i  week  at  the 
beginning  of  the  improved  care  you  will  add  i  teaspoonful  of 
sulphate  of  magnesia  to  every  quart  of  drinking  water,  and  fol- 
low this  for  2  weeks  with  yi  of  a  grain  of  strychnine  to  each 
quart  of  water,  you  will  hasten  the  time  when  the  birdc  will  be 
well." 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Poisons. 


Poultry  on  free  range  about  farms  and  especially  on  small 
city  lots  often  obtain  poisonous  substances.  Most  of  the  poisons 
obtained  by  fowls  are  the  so-called  mineral  poisons.  The  chief 
symptom  of  poisoning  by  these  substances  is  acute  inflammation 
of  the  digestive  tract.  The  narcotic  or  vegetable  poisons  on  the 
other  hand  cause  severe  congestion  of  the  blood  vessels  in  the 
spinal  cord  and  brain. 

Among  the  principal  poisons  likely  to  atTect  poultry  may  be 
mentioned  the  following: 

Common  Salt,  Nitrate  of  Soda,  Concentrated  Lyes. — Com- 
mon salt  is  most  frequently  obtained  in  excessive  amount  from 
eating  salt  meat  or  fish.  Ziirn  says  that  15-30  (^  to  i  oz.) 
grams  of  common  salt  will  kill  a  healthy  hen  in  from  8  to  12 
hours.  Nitrate  of  soda  is  used  as  a  fertilizer  and  is  eaten  by 
hens  along  with  worms,  etc.,  which  they  scratch  up.  Lye  is 
obtained  only  when  carelessly  left  about  the  grounds.  The 
treatment  for  such  poisons  according  to  Salmon  is  to  give  "abun- 
dant mucilaginous  drinks  such  as  infusion  of  flaxseed,  together 
with  stimulants,  strong  coffee  and  brandy  being  particularly  use- 
ful."' 

Arsenic  may  be  obtained  either  from  rat  poison  or  from  vari- 
ous arsenical  sprays  used  to  kill  insects.  Copper  is  used  in  such 
.spraying  mixtures  as  Bordeaux.  Where  spraying  has  been  done 
properly  there  should  be  no  danger  of  the  birds  getting  enough 
of  the  poison  to  injure  them.  Sometimes,  however,  the  vessels 
containing  the  mixtures  are  emptied  within  range  of  the  fowls 
or  the  substances  are  hantilcd  carelessly  in  other  ways. 

The  symptoms  of  arsenic  poisoning  are  given  by  Beeck  (Die 
Federviehzucht  1908,  p.  828)  as  follows:  "Secretion  of  large 
([uantities  of  saliva,  choking,  hiccoughing,  great  anxiety  and 
nervousness,  little  or  no  appetite,  thin,  often  bloody  feces,  slow 
and  difficult  breathing,  unsteady  walk,  trembling  and  convul- 
sions, expansion  of  the  pupils.     Death  ordinarily  occurs  in  a 


POULTKV    DISEASES    AND    TTTF.TR    TREATMENT.  45 

very  short  time."  Treatment  should  be  with  sulphate  of  iron, 
calcined  magnesia,  or  large  quantities  of  milk.  Salmon  also 
recommends  white  of  egg  and  flaxseed  mucilage. 

The  special  symptoms  of  copper  poisoning  are  vomiting  and 
diarrhea,  the  copper  giving  a  blue  or  green  color  to  the  vomited 
matter  and  the  feces.  Evidence  of  violent  pain  may  follow  with 
collapse,  convulsions  or  paralysis.  The  circulation  and  respira- 
tion are  weak.  Usually  fatal  in  a  few  hours.  Large  quantities 
of  milk,  white  of  egg,  mucilage,  and  sugar  water  are  recom- 
mended. 

Lead  and  cine  poisoning  occur  chiefly  from  eating  paint  skins. 
The  symptoms  so  far  as  they  have  been  observed  in  poultry  do 
not  differ  greatly  from  those  seen  in  copper  poisoning.  The 
treatment  recommended  by  Salmon  is  the  same  as  for  copper. 
With  lead  poisoning  the  sulphates  of  soda,  potash  or  magnesia 
are  recommended  with  the  object  of  forming  insoluble  sulphate 
of  lead. 

Phosphonis  may  be  obtained  from  rat  poisons  or  from  heads 
of  matches.  If  large  quantities  of  phosphorus  are  eaten  by  the 
bird  severe  inflammation  of  the  stomach  and  intestine  occurs 
and  death  results  in  from  i  to  2  hours.  If  only  a  small  quan- 
tity is  eaten  the  symptoms,  according  to  Beeck,  are  weakness, 
languor,  rufiled  feathers,  lack  of  appetite. 

Strychnine  is  usually  obtained  by  poultry  from  rat  poisons, 
The  distinctive  symptoms  here,  according  to  Beeck,  is  the  twist- 
ing of  the  spinal  column  and  paralysis.  The  neck  is  twisted 
backward  so  that  the  head  is  often  held  over  the  rump.  The 
treatment  recommended  by  Beeck  is  to  give  "inhalations  of 
chloroform  or  internally  i  to  3  grains  of  chloral  hydrate  dis- 
solved in  2  tablespoon sful  of  water.  The  amount  to  be  given 
depends  on  the  size  of  the  bird. 

Ergot  of  Rye  is  one  of  the  vegetable  poisons  which  sometimes 
causes  serious  trouble  among  poultry.  This  is  especially  true 
in  European  countries.  In  this  country  so  little  rye  is  raised  and 
fed  to  poultry  that  there  is  little  chance  for  poisoning.  The 
cause  of  the  poisoning  is  a  fungus  which  attacks  the  rye  plants. 
The  symptoms  of  ergot  poisoning  are  trembling,  intoxication, 
great  weakness  and  gangrene  of  the  comb,  beak  and  tongue. 
The  treatment  is  to  give  strong  stimulants  such  as  ''brandy, 
colifee.  cam])hor  or  quinine." 


46  I'OUI.TKV    DISIvASES   AND    THEIR    TKl-AT  M  K\T. 

Fowls  arc  occasionally  injured  by  eating  the  leaves  of  poison- 
ous plants.  Tlie  sense  of  taste,  however,  protects  the  birds  in 
most  cases.  Mr.  TI.  B.  Green  (Illus.  Poultry  Record,  \'ol.  I, 
p.  689)  says  in  this  connection:  "Woodlands  and  fields  abound 
in  ]>oisonous  plants,  and  yet  it  is  seldom,  except  in  the  case  of 
birds  that  have  been  starved  of  green  food  and  have  become 
ravenous  for  it,  that  fowls  ever  succumb  to  vegetable  poisons 
as  thus  ol)tained.  Protection  apparently  lies  in  the  fact  that 
undesirable  plants  have  repulsive  flavors.  Especially  in  sub- 
urban poultry  keeping,  danger  arises  when  flower  borders  are 
weeded,  seedlings  thinned  out,  and  plant  rubbish  swept  up,  if 
the  resulting  collection  is  thoughtlessly  given  to  fowls  in  con- 
fined runs.  Such  birds  are  generally  always  ready  for  green 
food  in  any  form  and  in  their  eagerness  to  satiate  the  craving 
the  bad  is  often  taken  in  with  the  good." 

TREATMENT    FOR    POISONS    IN    GENERAL. 

The  above  paragraphs  have  dealt  with  poisons  rather  more 
fully  than  is  usual  in  treatises  on  poultry  diseases.  In  the  great 
majority  of  cases  a  poisoned  bird  is  not  discovered  until  too  late 
for  treatment.  Even  if  found  in  time  it  is  usually  not  worth 
the  poultryman's  time  to  treat  individual  birds.  The  symptoms 
of  the  different  poisons  have  been  given  in  some  detail  with  the 
hope  that  they  may  enable  the  poultryman  to  distinguish  the 
kind  of  poisoning  which  they  may  encounter  and  may  thus  be 
able  to  remove  the  source  of  the  trouble  before  other  birds  are 
affected. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


Diseases  of  the  Liver. 

"The  annual  losses  of  T^ultry  due  to  liver  trouble  in  various 
forms  are  numerous.  Ihese  diseases  seem  to  occur  chiefly 
among  adult  fowls,  and  to  be  more  prevalent  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  winter  and  through  the  spring.  The  reasons  for  their 
frequency  then  are  easily  found.  The  common  forms  of  liver 
trouble  result  from  improper  feeding  and  lack  of  exercise.  These 
causes  operate  most  extensively  during  the  winter,  and  they 
usually  operate  slowly,  and  the  symptoms  of  liver  troubles  are 
generally  obscure  and  not  recognized  until  a  post-mortem  of 
fowls  dying  without  special  outward  symptoms  shows  a  dis- 
eased condition  of  the  liver.  Hence  liver  trouble  may  become 
general  and  reach  advanced  stages  in  a  flock  before  their  pres- 
ence is  suspected.  Meantime,  the  conditions  \\hich  cause  them 
may  be  continued,  the  owner  of  a  flock  not  infrequently  sup- 
posing that  the  absence  of  sickness  in  it  contradicts  the  teachings 
of  those  w^ho  advise  methods  designed  to  preserve  health,  while 
as  a  matter  of  fact  many  of  his  fowls  are  in  a  quite  advanced 
stage  of  some  liver  complaint."      (Robinson.) 

A  large  number  of  diseases  of  the  liver  are  described  by 
writers  on  this  subject.  Tn  the  great  majority  of  these  diseases 
there  are  no  external  symptoms  by  which  one  can  be  told  from 
another.  The  most  common  diseases  which  affect  the  liver  may, 
for  the  moment,  be  divided  into  two  rough  classes  which  it  is 
highly  important  for  the  poultryman  to  distinguish.  These  again 
can  only  be  distinguished  in  dead  birds,  but  the  occurrence  of 
cases  of  cither  kind  in  any  number  gives  the  poultryman  a  clue 
as  to  what  the  trouble  may  be  and  a  chance  to  correct  it.  In  the 
first  of  these  two  classes  a  post-mortem  examination  shows  the 
liver  covered  with  nodules  of  a  cheesy-like  ap])earance  when 
opened.  These  nodules  occur  not  only  in  the  liver  but  also  in  the 
spleen,  intestine  and  other  organs  and  sometimes  in  these  latter 
regions  without  affecting  the  liv(.r  at  all.     Willi  such  symptoms 


48  POUU'RV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT. 

\vf  iiKiv  1)0  fairly  certain  that  the  trouble  is  tuberculosis  and  for 
a  further  discussion  of  thi-  the  reader  is  referred  to  Chapter 

VTir. 

In  the  second  class  of  these  diseases  the  liver  shows  great 
enlargement  and  this  is  often  accompanied  or  followed  by  fatty 
degeneration.  This  hypertrophy  of  the  liver  is  what  is  gen- 
erally spoken  of  by  poultrymen  as  "liver  disease."  "Liver  dis- 
ease" as  popularly  interpreted  includes  a  number  of  difTerent 
diseases  distinguished  by  the  pathologist.  Of  these  the  ones 
most  commonly  treated  in  the  diseases  of  poultry  are  Conges- 
tion of  the  Liver,  Inflammation  of  the  Liver,  Atrophy  of  the 
Liver.  Hypertrophy  or  Enlargement  of  the  Liver,  Fatty  Degen- 
eration of  the  Liver  and  Jaundice. 

The  diagnosis  of  these  different  diseases  is  based  entirely  on 
the  post-mortem  appearances.  In  no  one  of  them  are  there  any 
outward  symptoms  which  distinguish  it  from  the  others.  "\^ale 
says  it  is  impossible  for  the  most  scientific  observer  to  diagnose 
either  inflammation  or  congestion  of  the  liver  with  positive  cer- 
tainty. The  symptoms  arc  much  the  same  and  outwardly  are 
the  general  symptoms  of  disease."      (Robinson.) 

Further  not  only  the  symptoms  but  also  the  causes  and  the 
treatments  of  these  several  diseases  are  essentially  the  same. 
The  names  of  the  diseases  themselves  indicate  in  a  general  way 
the  post-mortem  appearances. 

For  these  reasons  it  seems  best  to  give  a  brief  discussion  of 
the  general  causes  of  "liver  disease"  and  the  usual  treatment. 
This  will  be  followed  by  a  brief  account  of  each  disease  and  its 
special  symptoms  and  treatment,  if  any. 

Cause  of  Liver  Disease. — Lack  of  exercise  and  overfeeding, 
especially  with  rich  albuminous  foods,  are  the  most  common 
causes  of  diseases  of  the  liver.  In  addition  to  these  Salmon 
mentions  the  obstruction  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood  by  dis- 
ease of  the  heart  and  lungs.  Sanborn  says  that  congestion  of 
the  liver  may  be  caused  by  any  disease  of  the  crop,  gizzard  or 
bowels  that  obstructs  the  circulation  of  the  blood.  Robinson 
says :  "By  far  the  larger  proportion  of  the  cases  of  liver  trouble 
coming  to  my  notice  are  accounted  for  by  bad  feeding  con- 
ditions." 

Diagnosis  of  Liver  Disease. — There  are  no  special  external 
symptoms.  Sanborn  mentions  as  early  .symptoms:  "Rough  plu- 
mage, watery  diarrhea,  first  browni.sh,  then  yellow  ;  lack  of  appe- 


I'OUI/rRV    DISEASES    AND    TlllllR    TRl'ATM  KNT.  49 

tite  and  indisposition  to  move.  'I'hc  cunil)  nia_\-  be  pm'plish  at 
first,  beeoniing  dark  and  then  quite  blaek."  These,  howexer, 
are  all  merely  symptoms  of  di.seai=;e  in  general  that  might  a])i)ly 
to  an\  one  o\  a  dozen  or  more  ailments.  The  only  eertain 
methoil  of  recognizing  the  disease  is  by  i)i)st-mi)rtem  examina- 
tion. Every  poultryman  should  be  familiar  enough  with  the 
normal  appearance  of  the  more  im])ortant  i-iternal  organs  of  a 
fowl  to  recognize  abnormal  a])])tarance-.  In  general,  when 
post-nil ;rlem  examination  shows  the  liver  larger  or  smaller  than 
!iormal  or  congested  with  blood  or  marbled  or  spotted,  we  may 
assume  that  the  bird  probably  had  .some  form  of  liver  disease. 
Of  cour-e,  a  diseased  condition  of  the  liver  is  often  associated 
with  other  diseases,  especially  of  the  alimentary  canal.  Other 
organs  should  be  examined  in  all  cases  to  see  if  tliev  are  normal. 
Special  care  should  l)e  taken  to  distinguish  tu])erculosis  from 
other  diseased  conditions  of  the  liver  and  intestines. 

Trcat)nciit. — Since  it  is  not  possible  to  recognize  diseases  of 
the  liver  by  external  symptoms,  the  treatment  of  individual  1)irds 
is  out  of  the  question.  Tf,  however,  post-mortem  examinations 
show  that  a  numljcr  of  the  birds  are  dying  with  liver  trouble 
it  is  necessary  to  take  some  remedial  measures  regarding  the 
entire  flock.  In  this  connection  Robinson  gives  the  following 
remarks  and  advice : 

"Just  as  soon  as  it  is  suspected  that  there  is  liver  trouble  in 
the  llock  one  or  more  indisposed  birds  should  be  killed  and 
examined.  If  examination  confirms  the  suspicion  prompt  meas- 
ures should  be  taken  to  counteract  bad  tendencies.  These  should 
look  first  to  good  diet.  Make  the  mash,  if  mash  is  used,  light 
and  bulky;  feed  green  and  vegetable  foods  liberally;  compel  ex- 
ercise in  scratching  for  food.  Then  get  the  f(^wls  out  a  little 
every  day.  and  if  sanitary  conditions  in  the  house  arc  at  all 
objectionable  correct  them.  When  the  conditions  to  which  a 
flock  has  been  subjected  are  such  that  a  number  of  bad  cases  of 
liver  trouble  develop,  it  cannot  be  expected  that  corrective  meas- 
ures will  arrest  devcln|)ment  and  restore  to  health  in  every  case. 
On  the  contrary,  a  few  cases  may  develop  in  spite  of  remedial 
measures,  and  the  fowls  exposed  to  tlie  disease  are  likely  to  give 
a  much  larger  proportion  of  cases  of  sickness  of  various  kinds 
afterwarrU  than   fowls  diat  a-  a  floek  had  alwavs  been  healthy. 


50  I'ori.TKV    DISKASES    AND    TUKIK    TKEATMENT. 

This  hfiiig  the  case,  it  is  generally  good  policy  to  dispose  of  a 
flock  that  has  been  through  such  an  experience  as  this  as  soon 
as  it  can  be  done  to  advantage,  and  replace  with  always  healthy 
stock." 

With  regard  to  the  special  diseases  already  mentioned  the  one 
most  commonly  met  with  on  intensive  plants  at  least  is 

Hypertrophy  or  Enlargement  of  the  Liver. 

Tile  cause  of  this  trouble  is  chiefly  concerned  with  food.  In 
our  climate  it  occurs  most  frequently  towards  the  end  of  the 
winter.  The  birds  have  been  confined  to  their  houses  most  or 
all  of  the  winter  months.  Very  often  they  arc  overcrowded. 
The  rich  winter  ration  is  continued  after  the  w^eather  begins  to 
get  warm  and  less  heating  food  is  needed.  This  combined  with 
too  little  exercise  and  not  enough  green  food  favor  indigestion 
and  the  accompanying  sluggish  action  of  gizzard  and  intestines. 
These  are  the  immediate  causes  of  trouble  with  the  liver.  It  is 
said  that  feeding  too  much  corn  and  barley  is  also  responsible 
for  much  liver  trouble. 

Symptoms.— Mr.  H.  B.  Green,  M.  R.  C.  S.,  gives  the  follow- 
ing symptoms  of  hypertrophy  of  the  liver.  He  believes  this  to 
be  only  a  stage  in  the  fatty  degeneration  of  this  organ.  (Illus- 
trated Poultry  Record  1909,  p.  691.)  "The  first  sign  that  a  fowl 
is  tending  towards  fatty  disease  of  the  liver  is  increase  in  weight. 
The  comb  wattles  and  face  remain  a  bright  red  or  take  on  a  dull 
bluish  tinge  from  congestion.  This  sign  of  sluggish  circulation 
tells  of  full  blood  vessels,  and  explains  how  it  is  that  apoplexy 
so  frequently  supervenes  at  this  period.  The  excrement  is  an 
important  symptom  to  note.  It  is  generally  at  first  semi-liquid. 
of  a  dark  yellow  color,  and  evacuations  are  frequent.  Thirst 
is  noticeable  and  a  large  quantity  of  water  is  drunk,  especially 
after  feeding.  The  appetite  remains  good,  although  the  bird  is 
capricious  in  what  it  eats.  A  post-mortem  examination  of  a 
fowl  in  this  phase  of  the  disease  will  show  a  liver  considerably 
enlarged,  of  a  deep  red  color,  engorged  with  blood,  shining  and 
greasy  as  though  it  had  been  soaked  in  oil,  but  fairly  firm  under 
the  knife.  The  intestines  are  laden  with  masses  of  fat.  so  also 
are  the  mesentery — or  as  it  is  termed  by  butchers,  'the  leaf.' — 
the  ovary  and  oviduct." 

In  the  next  stage  "Diarrhoea  increases,  the  excrement  being 


POri.lKN      DISHASKS    AND    TIII'.IR    TKl'.AT  M  KXT.  3I 

perhaps  bloodstaiiKnl  or  blackened  by  eonyealed  clots;  the  face, 
comb  and  wattles  become  a  darker  hue  or  if  jaundice  supervenes 
they  may  be  pale  or  tinged  with  yellow  bile;  more  fat  is  laid  on 
internally  and  the  liver  will  prove  to  be  greatly  enlarged.  So 
large  may  this  become  by  the  deposit  of  fat  globules  between  and 
in  the  substance  of  its  cells  that  on  one  occasion  I  have  removed 
from  an  Orpington  cock  a  liver  that  turned  the  scale  at  a  pound 
and  a  half.  This  stage  is  seldom  passed  and  death  usually  takes 
place  from  syncope,  or  an  accidental  rupture  of  the  softened 
liver." 

Trcatincjit. — Green  says  further:  "Part  of  the  treatment  con- 
sists of  a  plentiful  allowance  of  green  food.  Nothing  in  this 
way  is  better  than  freshly  gathered  dandelion  leaves  when  pro- 
curable, for  the  taraxacum  they  contain  is  a  valuable  liver  stim- 
ulant. It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  sliced  roots  of  the 
plants  can  be  steeped  m  boiling  water  to  make  an  infusion 
equally  effective  when  the  leaves  are  no  longer  obtainable.  The 
roots  should  be  gathered  and  stored  in  dry  boxes.  The  infu- 
sion is  conveniently  mixed  with  the  morning  soft  food  and  is 
always  beneficial  to  birds  in  confinement  as  an  occasional  liver 
tonic." 

Fatty  Degeneration. 

As  noted  in  the  above  paragraphs,  Green  regards  this  disease 
as  a  later  stage  in  the  hypertrophy  of  the  liver.  Salmon,  on  the 
other  hand,  believes  it  to  be  a  quite  different  disease.  The  latter 
author  says:  "On  post-mortem  examination  the  liver  is  found 
shrunken,  hardened  and  marbled  or  spotted  with  areas  of  gray- 
ish or  yellowish  tissue.  A  microscopic  examination  shows  the 
liver  cells  to  contain  droplets  of  fat  and  the  liver  tissue  degen- 
erated and  largely  replaced  by  yellow  fat  globules. 

As  the  disease  is  not  recognized  during  life,  treatment  is  out 
of  the  question.  If  a  number  of  cases  occur  in  the  same  flock, 
give  greater  variety  of  food  and  a  run  on  the  grass.  In  addi- 
tion, bicarbonate  of  soda  may  be  given  in  the  drinking  water  to 
the  amount  of  i  or  2  grains  a  day  for  each  l)ird." 


5_>  I'on.TKV    DISKASES    AM)    T  I !  K  I  k    TKKATMENT. 

.ItropJw  or  H'asliii;/  of  the  Li:\'i'. 

This  is  vcMv  siniilai-  in  many  respects  to  the  disease  described 
hv  Salmon  as  fatty  degeneration  and  probably  arises  from  the 
same  cause,  ;'.  c,  lack  of  variety  in  the  food,  especially  lack  of 
green  food. 

Symptoms. — Robinson  sa.ys:  "There  are  no  special  external 
svm]itoms.  An  examination  of  the  fowl  after  death  shows  the 
liver  shrunken  and  somewhat  granular  and  sometimes  of  a 
yellowish  cast." 

Treatment. — See  Salmon's  treatment  of  fatty  degeneration 
above.  The  ilock  should  be  given  frequent  (weekly)  doses  of 
Epsom  salts. 

Coiif/esfion  and  J nflauunation  of  the  Liver. 

These  are  prol)al)ly  different  stages  of  the  same  disease.  The 
poultrvman  will  fnid  difficulty  in  distinguishing  between  this  dis- 
ease and  that  known  as  hypertrophy  of  the  liver  (cf.  p.  50). 
The  chief  jiost-mortem  dift'erence  is  that  in  the  latter  disease 
the  liver  is  more  solid,  not  so  easily  torn  or  ruptured. 

Diac/nosis. — There  are  no  external  symptoms  other  than  those 
of  dullness  and  the  general  symptoms  of  disease.  Salmon  says: 
"It  is  difficult  to  make  a  diagnosis  during  the  life  of  the  bird. 
Post-mortem  examination  reveals  a  greatly  enlarged  liver  en- 
gorged with  blood,  tender  and  easily  torn  or  cruslied." 

Treatment. — Treatment  of  these  diseases  in  individual  birds 
is  very  rarely  successful.  The  general  treatment  of  the  flock  as 
recommended  on  p.  49  should  be  attended  to.  The  chief  medi- 
cinal treatment  should  probably  be  frequent  doses  of  Epsom 
salts.  \'arious  authors  recommend  different  medicinal  treat- 
ments.    For  these  see  Robinson   (pp.  71  to  74). 

Jaiindice. 

jaundice  <^r  biliar}-  rei)letion  is  said  by  Megnin  (Medicine  des 
Oiseaux )  to  be  due  to  long  continued  but  moderate  congestion 
of  the  liver.  Tliis  leads  to  increased  activity  of  this  organ  and 
is  followed  1)\-  the  accumulation  of  a  large  quantity  of  bile  in 
the  gall  bladder  and  ducts  of  the  bird.  This  bile  is  ab.sorbed  by 
the  blood  vessels  and  cau-^es  poisoning  which  may  lead  to  the 
death  of  the  bird. 

Diagnosis. — Tliere   are   no   specific  external   symptoms  other 


I'UL'LTKV    DLSKASl-S    AXU    Tlll'.IR    TKKATM  KNT.  53 

than  that  the  wattles  and  comb  may  be  yellowish.  This  also 
occurs  in  other  li\er  (Hseases.  Post-mortem  examination  shows 
the  gall  bladder  greatly  distended  with  liile. 

Treatment. — Give  greater  variety  of  food,  especially  more 
green  food.  Give  Epsom  salts  freciiiently.  Megnin  recom- 
mends I/2  to  I  grain  of  aloes. 

This  completes  the  list  of  the  liver  diseases  most  commonly 
treated  as  >uch  by  poultry  veterinarians.  There  are  a  nmnber 
of  other  diseases  which  especially  affect  the  liver  or  are  caused 
by  deranged  function  of  this  organ.  These  may  mo.st  con- 
veniently be  mentioned  at  this  place. 

Blackhead   (Infections  Bnfero'Hepatitis). 

Blackhead  is  essentially  a  disease  of  turkeys.  It  is  not  the 
intention  of  this  work  to  treat  diseases  of  poultry  other  than 
fowls.  Consequently  little  will  be  said  about  this  disease  except 
as  it  applies  to  fowls.  If  further  information  is  desired  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  Rhode  Island  Experiment  Station, 
Kingston,  R.  I.,  for  bulletins  relating  to  this  disease.  That  sta- 
tion has  been  and  still  is  studying  this  disease  in  a  most  thor- 
ough way. 

Blackhead  is  a  contagious  disease  affecting  the  liver  and  in- 
testines, especially  the  blind  pouches  or  ceca  of  the  latter.  The 
disease  is  very  quickly  fatal  among  tiu-keys.  The  turkey  is 
apparently  more  susceptible  than  any  other  bird  to  this  disease. 
In  certain  portions  of  this  country  where  once  turkey  raising 
was  a  promising  industry  it  has  been  practically  annihilated. 
The  disease  is  not  usually  as  fatal  to  adult  chickens  but  may 
cause  very  serious  loses  at  times.  It  is  now  believed  by  several 
prominent  investigators  of  this  disease  that  white  diarrhea,  so 
destructive  to  young  chicks,  is  caused  by  the  same  organism  as 
blackhead.     For  further  discussion  of  this  see  Chapter  XIX. 

The  cause  of  blackhead  disease  according  to  Dr.  Theobald 
Smith  (Bur.  An.  Ind.  Bui.  Xo.  8)  is  a  minute  parasitic  proto- 
zoan known  as  Amoeba  melcagridis.  More  recently  Drs.  Cole 
and  TTadley  of  the  Rhode  Island  Experiment  Station  have 
claimed  that  the  causative  organism  belongs  to  another  group  of 
l)rotozoa  known  as  Coccidia.  Dr.  Smith,  however,  still  main- 
tains that  the  former  organism  is  concerned  in  the  disease.  The 
point  to  this  discussion  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  Coccidium  has 


54  POULTRY    DISKASKS    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT. 

a  very  different  life  history  from  tlie  .hnocba,  consequently  it 
probably  has  a  different  method  of  dispersal  and  different  means 
must  be  used  in  combatting  it. 

Diagnosis. — There  are  no  special  external  symptoms  of  this 
disease  until  in  an  advanced  stage.  The  victim  then  begins  to 
mope,  loses  its  appetite  and  is  inclined  to  sit  apart  with  drooped 
wings.  The  head  and  comb  take  on  a  dark  color  from  which 
the  disease  takes  its  name  "blackhead."  One  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous symptoms  is  the  diarrhea.  Post-mortem  examination 
shows  the  liver  enlarged  and  disfigured  with  whitish  or  yellow- 
ish spots.  The  ccca  are  inflamed  and  often  clogged  with  pus 
and    fecal   matter. 

Treatment. — Medical  treat- 
ment of  turkeys  affected  with 
blackhead  is  of  little  avail,  at 
least  in  the  present  state  of 
our  knowledge.  Cole  and 
Hadley  (Rhode  Island  Expt. 
Stat.  Hul.  141)  recommend 
the  following:  (  i  )  Isolate  the 
sick  bird  from  the  flock  and 
place  it  in  a  dry.  well  lighted 
s,^.  ^^^^^  location    free    from   cold   and 

Fig.  I.  Showing  condition  of  draughts.  (2)  Feed  sparing- 
liver  in  "blackhead."  (Modi-  ly  on  soft,  light,  easily  assim- 
fied  after  Moore).  liable   food,  with  little  grain, 

especially  corn."  The  chief  preventative  measures  are  to  keep 
the  birds  on  fresh  ground;  to  isolate  any  birds  showing  the 
least  sign  of  disease,  to  destroy  all  dead  birds  and  to  protect 
the  turkeys  from  contamination  carried  either  by  new  stock  or 
by  other  poultry  or  by  wild  birds  as  sparrows,  crowds,  etc.  Dr. 
Morse  (B.  A.  I.  Circ.  128)  recommends  for  turkeys  under  3 
months  old  ^  grain  copperas  in  the  morning  and  a  2}^  grain 
pill  of  salicylate  of  soda  in  the  evening.  Give  Epsom  salts 
every  3  or  4  days  and  keep  the  grounds  and  floors  well  sprinkled 
with  lime. 

With  fowls  the  disease  is  not  so  virulent  but  it  is  still  well 
to  protect  the  flock  from  introduction  of  this  disease.  In  this 
connection  Dr.  Cole  (American  Poultry  \\^orld,  1910)  says: 
"It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  adult  chickens  and  other  poultry 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT.  55 

to  die  with  all  the  pathological  appearances  of  blackhead,  which 
diagnosis  has  been  confirmed  witli  tlic  microscope.  Further- 
more, infection  there  with  this  organism  appears  to  be  one  of 
the  principal  causes  of  death  of  brooder  chicks,  which  exhibit 
[he  symptoms  of  one  form  of  the  poultryman's  greatest  scourge, 
white  diarrhea.'  It  has  often  been  said  of  late :  If  you  want 
to  raise  turkeys  keep  them  away  from  chickens;  it  might  be 
oaid  with  even  greater  emphasis :  If  you  want  to  raise  chickens, 
keep  turkeys  away  from  them." 

Dr.  G.  B.  Morse  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture 
^ives  (Reliable  Poultry  Journ.,  Sept.,  1910)  a  number  of  other 
diseases  which  affect  the  liver.  Some  of  these  which  are  not 
treated  elsewhere  in  this  circular  will  \yv  mentioned  in  the  fol- 
lowing paragraphs. 

Cercomoniasis. 

This  is  frequently  called  "spotted  liver."  ii,  like  many  other 
liver  diseases,  is  associated  with  intestinal  trouble,  especially 
severe  diarrhea,  that  attacks  poultr}-  during  the  summer  months. 
The  disease  is  caused  by  a  flagellate  micro-organism  known  as 
Monocercomonas  gallinarnm.  The  post-mortem  appearance  of 
the  liver  in  this  disease  shows  usually  slightly  depressed  yellow- 
ish necrotic  areas  or  spots.  This  fact  usually  distinguished  this 
disease  from  tuberculosis  where  there  are  prominent  rounded 
cheesy  nodules.  In  pigeons,  liowever.  this  cercomonad  is  said 
to  cause  rounded  prominent  nodules  about  the  size  of  a  pea. 

This  same  organism  (Monocercomonas  gallinarum)  is  also 
said  to  be  responsible  for  other  diseases.  The  most  important 
of  these  is  one  form  of  roup.  Canker  in  squabs  and  intestinal 
diarrhea  in  poultry  are  other  diseases  attributed  to  this  parasite. 

This  disease  can  be  held  in  check,  it  is  said,  by  keeping  the 
poultry  plant  well  cleaned  and  disinfected  and  by  giving  the 
birds  an  occasional  purgative,  c.  g.,  Epsom  salts. 

In  aspergillosis,  the  liver  often  presents  the  appearance  of 
being  "studded  all  over  with  minute,  whitish  or  yellowish  spots." 
This  disease  is  discussed  in  Chapter  XIX. 

Sarconiatosis  and  Carcinomatosis. 

In  some  cases  the  liver  is  aft'ected  with  tumors  or  cancers. 
These  are  usually  found  in  connection  with  similar  develop- 
ments on  the  ovaries. 


5(>  ^()^I.TR^•  diskases  and  tiikir  tri:.\imi:nt. 

Coiif. 

Ill  oases  of  visceral  gout  the  liver  and  adjoining  organs  are 
covered  witli  a  finr  chalky  sediment.  This  substance  consists 
of  crystals  of  urate  of  soda.  See  Cliaj)tcr  X\'.  for  detailed  de- 
scription. 


CUAl'TlvK     \lll. 


Tuberculosis. 

Tulirrculosis  in  fowls  has  long  been  a  serious  pest  in  I'.urope. 
Zurn  in  his  ''Krankheiten  des  Hausoeflugels,"  published  in  1882, 
devotes  several  pages  to  the  description  of  this  disease  as  it 
occurred  in  Germany.  Its  appearance  in  this  country,  however, 
seems  to  have  been  much  more   recent. 

Sahiiou,  whose  book  was  published  al)out  1888,  says  that  the 
disease  "is  bv  no  means  rare  in  the  Tnited  vStates  if  the  state- 
ments of  our  professional  men  are  to  l)e  accepted."  However, 
at  that  time  very  little  had  been  done  in  the  way  of  bacterio- 
logical diagnosis  and  no  doubt  many  of  the  early  reports  were 
unreliable. 

The  disease  was  first  reported  on  the  basis  of  bacteriological 
examination  in  1900  by  Ternot  (Oregon  Agr.  Expt.  Stat.  Bull. 
64).  In  1903  Moore  and  Ward  reported  investigations  on 
avian  tu])erculosis  in  California  (  I'roc.  Am.  A'et.  Med.  Assoc. 
1903  ).  They  found  "a  number  of  ilocks  in  which  the  mortality 
from  the  disease  was  very  high."  Fowl  tuberculosis  was  re- 
ported from  western  and  central  Catiada  in  1904  by  Dr.  C.  Tf. 
Higgins  (Dept.  of  Agr.  Canada.  1905).  Tn  1906  it  was  re- 
ported from  Xew  ^'ork  and  in  1907  from  southern  Michigan. 
The  di.sease  has  ])een  reported  in  many  other  ])laces  within  the 
la^t  few  years,  it  thus  seems  certain  that  the  disease  is  wide- 
spread throughout  the  United  vStates  and  Canada  and  in  the 
future  un\>i  be  reckoned  with  by   American  ]>  'ultrymen. 

Tuberculosis  may  exist  exten>i\-ely  among  fowls,  especially 
in  large  Hocks,  and  \et  not  kill  enough  ])irds  to  .altract  attention 
to  it.  Keports  show  that  fanners  often  lo-r  1  or  _'  birds  a 
year  from  what  appears  to  ])c  tuberculosis.  In  many  places  the 
loss  seems  to  be  gradually  increasing.  The  existence  of  the 
disease  in  the  Hock  fails  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  owner 
because  the  li^-cs  are  so  evenly  distril)iited  through'mt  the  year. 
Aloore  and  Ward  rej)ort  a  Hock  of  1400  birds  from  which  250 
had  died  during  the  hrst  vear.      .\nother  man  lost  300  birds  out 


58  ruri;iuv  diskasks  and  tiikik  treatment. 

of  a  tlock  of  1460.  Microscopic  examination  proved  that  these 
were  (lvin<(  of   lul)erculosis. 

Tuberculosis  is  confined  chiefly  to  adult  or  nearly  adult  fowls. 
Only  very  rarelw  if  ever,  is  it  found  in  growing  chicks.  Fur- 
ther it  is  much  more  common  in  fowls  than  in  other  kinds  of 
poultrv.  Two  cases  in  wild  geese  were  reported  at  the  On- 
tario Agricultural  College.  Avian  tuberculosis  is  said  to  be 
found  in  turkeys,  pheasants,  and  especially  in  pigeons.  Cage 
birds  are  particularly  susceptible  to  this  disease. 

Etiology. — Tuberculosis  is  caused  by  a  minute  germ,  the 
Bacillus  tuberculosis  of  birds.  These  l^acteria  gain  entrance  to 
certain  portions  of  the  body  and  there  multiply  in  vast  numbers, 
causing  the  formation  of  small  nodules  or  tubercles.  The  dis- 
ease is  highlv  contagious  and  is  .spread  through  the  flock  by  the 
contact  of  healthy  birds  with  the  diseased  ones,  or  with  their 
discharges. 

The  relation  of  avian  tuberculosis  to  that  of  man  and  other 
animals  has  attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention.  It  is  a  subject 
of  very  great  importance  to  the  poultryman,  not  only  on  account 
of  his  flock  but  also  on  account  of  its  relation  to  the  health  of 
himself  and  his  family.  In  this  connection,  writing  some  years 
ago  Salmon  says:  "^Nlany  outbreaks  (of  fowl  tuberculosis)  have 
been  attributed  to  infection  from  eating  the  sputum  of  persons 
affected  with  consumption.  Tlie  possil^ility  of  such  infection  is 
admitted  by  .some  authorities  and  denied  by  others.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  poultry  and  ]Mgeons  are  not  easily  infected  experi- 
mentally witli  the  tuberculosis  of  people,  cattle  and  other  ani- 
mals which  are  classed  together  as  mammals."  On  the  other 
hand.  "Tlie  bird  or  avian  tuberculosis  spreads  rapidly  from 
l)ir(l  to  bird  and  is  easily  transmitted  experimentally  to  birds  but 
it  has  little  effect  upon  most  mammals  which  are  very  suscep- 
tible to  human  tuberculosis.  There  is,  consequently,  a  marked 
difiference  between  avian  and  mammalian  tuberculosis.  The 
disease  in  tlie  two  cases  does  not  appear  to  be  absolutely  dis- 
tinct, l)ut  slimld  rather  be  regarded  as  two  varieties  of  the  .same 
malady.'" 

In  the  last  few  years  a  great  deal  has  been  found  out  about 
tuberculosis  in  1)oth  birds  and  mammals.  The  results  have 
been  sinnmarized  and  extended  by  Drs.  Koch  and  Rabinowitsch 
in  an  extensive  pa])er  dealing  with  avian  tuberculosis  and   its 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TKEATMl-NT.  59 

relation  to  mammalian  tubercnlosis  (X'irchow's  Arch.  f.  I'ath. 
Anat.  u.  Phys..  etc..  LUl.  190.  pp.  246-541,  1907).  Their  results 
mav  he  briefly  stated  as  follows:  Attempts  to  infect  fowls 
with  mammalian  tubercnlosis,  like  the  earlier  negative  results 
of  other  authors,  have  been  fruitless.  However,  fowls  are  very 
easily  infected  with  avian  tuberculosis  by  feeding  them  parts  of 
diseased  birds.  On  the  other  hand,  methods  of  infecting  fowls 
other  than  feeding  are  not  always  successful  even  with  avian 
tuberculosis.  Other  birds,  especially  cage  birds,  are  very  read- 
ily infected  in  various  ways.  Parrots,  in  particular,  are  sus- 
ceptible not  only  to  avian  tuberculosis  but  also  to  mammalian 
and  human  tuberculosis.  Also  canary  birds,  sparrows,  and  va- 
rious birds  of  prey  were  proven  to  be  susceptible  to  both  avian 
and  mammalian  tuberculosis.  In  these  respects  such  birds 
difler  materially  from  the  domestic  fowls. 

On  the  other  hand  their  later  researches  have  made  it  appar- 
ent that  a  large  number  of  mammals  are  susceptible  to  avian 
tuberculosis.  These  include  not  only  the  small  laboratory  ani- 
mals as  rabbits,  mice  and  guinea  pigs,  but  also  cattle,  hogs, 
horses,  goats,  and  donkeys.  Also  avian  tubercle  bacilli  have 
been  found  in  cases  of  human  tuberculosis.  On  the  basis  of 
such  experiments  and  observations  it  appears  that  avian  and 
mammalian  tuberculosis  are  not  caused  by  different  species  of 
bacteria  but  by  different  varieties  of  the  same  species.  These 
varieties  have  developed  because  the  bacilli  have  grown  for  a 
long  period  of  time  under  different  conditions.  They  are  not 
so  different,  however,  but  that  they  may  grow  in  the  environ- 
ment best  suited  to  the  other  one. 

It'tJuis  appears  that  zdiile  fozvls  arc  not  very  likely  to  contract 
tuberculosis  from  domestic  animals  or  from  man,  yet  fozcls  that 
have  the  diseases  arc  a  serious  menace  to  the  other  animals 
on  the  farm  as  icell  as  to  the  pouUryman  and  his  family.  fCf. 
further  on  this  point  p.  64  below). 

Diagnosis.  Tuberculosis  in  mankind  is  so  serious  a  disease 
chiefly  because  it  is  so  diiffcult  to  recognize  it  in  its  earliest 
stages.  The  same  is  true  with  tlie  disease  in  fowls.  There  are 
positively  no  external  symptoms  by  which  the  disease  can  be 
recognized  in  fowls  before  the  advanced  stages.  Morse  (R.  P. 
J.  Sept.  1910)  says  on  this  point :  "There  is  a  combination  of 
symi)toms  that  might  serve  \o  arouse  your  suspicions ;  steadily 


6o 


I'oii.iin    i)isi;.\si;s  AM)   iin-iK  tri-atmknt. 


fW 


advanciiii^  einaciation ;  ane- 
mia, shown  by  ])allor  of 
conil)  wattles  and  the  skin 
about  tlie  head ;  general 
weakness ;  lanieness,  ruftiing 
of  the  feathers  and  in  many 
cases  diarrhea.  When  com- 
bined with  tlie  foregoing 
von  notice  a  bright  eye  and 
a  ravenous  appetite  you 
may  have  very  strong  sus- 
|)icions.'' 

Emaciation  is  one  of  the 
best  symptoms  and  in  the 
last  stages  of  the  disease  be- 
comes verv  i;:arked.  Per- 
not  cites  the  case  of  a  Ply- 
mouth Rock  hen  weighing  4 
pounds  that  was  reduced  to 
22  ounces.  'I  he  emaciation 
is  very  marked  in  the  mus- 
cles covering  tlie  breast 
bone.  Fig.  2  shows  the 
breast  bone  of  a  tuberculous 
hen  from  which  the  skin 
onlv   has  been   removed. 

Lameness     is    another 
symptom  often  shown  in  the 
later   stages   of   the  disease. 
This  is  caused  by  tuberculo- 
sis of  the  joinrs  as  has  been 
proven  in  many  cases.  Such 
cases  are  often  called  "rheu- 
Fig.    2.     Breast    bone    of    a     f,.ul     n^atisnr       by       poultrymen. 
showing  excessive  cmaciatiun   in     Tuljerculosis  may  also  form 
tuberculosis.     (After  Ward).  tumors  or  ulcers  or  various 

outgrov,  ths  on  tl^e  head  and  limbs  of  birds.  Such  forms  of  the 
disease  are  comparatively  rare  in  poultry,  however.  Parrots 
are  particularly  affected  with  these  external  tubercles. 

None  of  these  symp'toms.  h.owcver.  is  more  than  an  indication 


i'ori;i"Rv  DISEASES  .\m>  tiii;ik    treatment. 


r,i 


of  the  possible  presence  of  the  disease.  .Morse  says:  "At  the 
post-mortem  examination  you  may  have  your  suspi- 
cions strengthened  by  ilncHng  hvcr.  si)leen.  intestines 
and  membrane  uniting  the  intestinal  folds  ( niesentcries) 
studded  with  \cllM\vi^ll  white  cheesy  nodules  of  various 
sizes.""     Outside  of  the  bacteriological  test  these  post-mortem 

findings    are    the    best 

proof  of  the  disease  we 
have.  The  liver  is  af- 
fected in  nearly  every 
case  of  fowl  tubercu- 
losis. However,  as  has 
been  pointed  out  many 
times  in  these  pages,  a 
spotted  condition  of 
the  liver  is  no  sure  sign 
of  tuberculosis.  Most 
of  the  other  li\er  dis- 
eases of  fowls  cause  a 
simple  blotching  of  the 
tissue  in  which  the 
center  of  each  sjiot  is 
usually  depressed  or 
at  least  only  slightly 
raised.  (Cf.  Fig.  i,  p. 
54).  In  tuberculosis 
the  liver  is  covered 
with  numerous  raised  nodules  varying  greatly  in  number  and 
size  as  shown  in  tig.  3.  A  section  of  the  liver  shows  these 
nodules  or  tuliercles  distributed  throughout  the  tissue. 

Still  more  conclusive  evidence  is 


Fi.c 


3.     Liver     of     fowl     affected     with 
tulierculosis.      (.After    Ward). 


■*\;.>' 


li\cr  in  the  region  of  the  gall  blad- 


F 


d(.r.  In  cases  of  tul)erculosis  it  is 
Mg.  4.  Spleen  from  tuber-  very  frecnuntl}'  greatly  enlarged 
culous  fowl  cut  through  and  is  studded  throughout  with  the 
the  middle,  (.\ftcr  Koch 
and  Rabinowitsch). 

1"  h^"-  4- 


vellowi^h-white  tuliercles  as  slu^wn 


62 


I'ori.Tin     DISKASICS    AM)     llIlilR    TRKAT  M  KNT, 


Still  another  \cr\-  important  jMece  of  post-mortem  evidence 
is  iKund  if  tin.'  intestines  and  {hv  mesenteries  are  dotted  with 
these  roiindrd  mxhdf--  as  shown  in  iig.  5. 


Fig.    5.     Intestine    and   nusenleric's  of   a    fowl   affected   witli 
tnbercnlosis.      (After    Ward). 

The  hmgs  are  very  rarely  affected  and  then  usually  by  the 
infection  spreading  from  the  liver  on  to  the  adjoining  lung  tis- 
sue. All  this  agrees  witli  the  fact  previously  stated  that  fowls 
are  most  easily  infected  through  the  digestive  tract.  Alteration 
of  the  hones,  joints  or  other  organs  occtu-  much  more  rarely  and 
usually  only  in  the  most  advanced  stages  of  the  disease. 


POULTRV    DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT.  63 

If  the  post-mortem  fuulings  agree  in  essentials  with  those  giv- 
en in  the  preceding  paragraphs  we  may  be  practically  certain 
that  we  are  dealing  with  tnberculosis.  It  should  not  be  forgot- 
ten, however,  that  the  pathologist  would  not  be  willing  to  pro- 
nounce the  disease  tuberculosis  until  he  had  taken  a  small  parti- 
cle of  the  cheesy  material  and  after  staining  this  in  a  particular 
way  liad  demonstrated  by  microscopical  examination  that  the 
tubercle  bacilli  were  present. 

Moore  and  Ward  have  carried  on  some  experiments  in  the 
use  of  tuberculin  in  detecting  this  disease.  Ward  (loc.  cit.J  gives 
the  results  of  trials  on  21  hens  affected  with  tuberculosis.  In 
very  few  cases  did  the  tests  give  positive  results  and  these 
were  so  slight  and  irregular  as  to  be  useless  as  a  method  of  diag- 
nosis. Apparently  there  is  little  hope  of  success  in  this  direc- 
tion with  fowl  tuberculosis. 

Methods  of  Contagion.  The  spread  of  tuberculosis  from 
fowl  to  fowl  takes  place  only  when  the  living  bacteria  are  trans- 
ferred from  the  diseased  to  the  healthy  birds.  From  the  fact 
that  tuberculous  lesions  are  most  commonly  found  in  the  inter- 
nal organs  of  the  digestive  system  we  may  conclude  that  the 
bacteria  usually  enter  the  body  along  wath  the  food.  Exam- 
ination of  the  tubercles  situated  along  the  intestine  shows  that 
in  many  cases  these  communicate  directly  with  the  interior  of 
the  digestive  tract.  These  are  constantly  emptying  enormous 
numbers  of  bacteria  which  are  carried  to  the  outside  by  the 
feces  of  the  bird.  Without  doubt  the  ilroppings  of  tuberculous 
fovi-ls  are  the  most  important  factor  in  the  spread  of  this  disease. 
This  is  especially  true  when  in  addition  the  birds  are  fed  upon 
ground  which  is  partly  covered  with  these  droppings.  Besides, 
the  infectious  material  may  very  easily  be  carried  by  the  feet 
and  thus  mixed  with  the  food. 

Ward  states  that  there  is  no  e.vidence  to  indicate  that  tuber- 
culosis is  spread  through  the  egg.  He  cites  in  support  of  this  the 
fact  that  badly  diseased  birds  do  not  lay  and  second  the  absence 
of  tuberculosis  among  young  stock.  Koch  and  Rabinowitsch. 
however,  on  the  basis  of  later  and  more  thorough  work  make 
the  following  statement  (p.  431)  :  "The  possibility  of  the  con- 
genital origin  of  tuberculosis  of  fowls  through  the  infection  of 
the  fertilized  egg  with  bird  tuberculosis  is  shown  by  our  results. 
It    is    also    demonstrated    by    oiu-    inoculation    experiments    on 


04  I'm  I.TI<^■  nisKAsi'S  and   riii;iu    trkai'mknt. 

ctrgs.'"  l-"ui-lluT  tlu\  lia\c  given  cxpcrinu'iital  proof  of  the 
transfer  of  llu'  l)aittria  of  mammalian  tnbcrculosis  from  the 
iiiocitlatcd  cijij  to  the  chick.  As  noted  Ijcforc  it  was  very  (Ufficnlt 
to  do  this  by  fecihng  tlie  liens  food  infected  with  mammalian 
tnhercnlosis. 

In  this  connection  it  is  of  interest  to  mention  a  case  of  the 
apparent  transfer  of  fowl  tuberculosis  to  man.  In  the  Medical 
Record  ( \'ol.  31.  1887)  there  is  recorded  a  case  of  human 
tuberculosis  in  I'rance  which  ai)parcntly  came  from  eating 
tuberculous  fowls  which  "were  cooked  very  little  before  being 
eaten."  The  case  occurred  "in  a  little  hamlet  of  10  cottages 
isolated  in  the  midst  of  a  large  forest."  No  other  source  of 
infection  could  be  discovered. 

Treatment.  VowX  tuberculosis  when  it  reaches  the  stage  at 
which  it  can  be  diagnosed  cannot  be  cured  under  our  present 
knowledge.  Treatment  of  individual  cases  should  not  be  at- 
tempted. After  it  has  been  ascertained  by  post-mortem  (and  if 
possible  bacteriological)  examination  that  the  disease  exists  in 
the  fiock  all  suspected  birds  should  be  removed  at  once.  If 
the  disease  is  to  be  controlled  it  must  be  by  keeping  the  healthy 
and  the  affected  birds  apart.  The  most  serious  thing  about 
tuberculosis  is  that  there  may  be  many  birds  in  the  flock  that 
are  in  early  stages  of  the  disease  but  do  not  betray  their  condi- 
tion. Long  before  these  birds  show  recognizable  s^'mptoms 
they  are  throwing  out  millions  of  bacteria  which  become  a  men- 
ace to  the  remainder  of  the  flock. 

If  only  one  or  two  cases  of  tuberculosis  are  found  it  may  be 
sufficient  to  simply  disinfect  the  houses,  yards,  feeding  troughs 
and  drinking  vessels.  This  should  be  done  with  some  good  dis- 
infectant. (See  Chap.  II).  Morse  recommends  also  the  liberal 
application  of  lime  referring  to  the  fact  that  "lime  workers  sel- 
dom suffer  with  tuberculosis.'"  The  nms  shoidd  l)e  cidtivated 
and  the  houses  should  be  open  to  the  sunshine  and  fresh  air  at 
all  times. 

If,  however,  the  number  of  birds  dying  of  tuberculosis  in 
the  flock  is  increasing  even  though  the  increase  is  very  gradual, 
more  strenuous  measures  must  be  taken.  Under  these  condi- 
tions Dr.  ]\Iorse  says:  "Kill  everything  in  sight,  flisinfect.  allow 
the  ])oultry  plant  to  lie  fallow  for  scxeral  months,  disinfect  again 
and   buv    fresh   stock  that  is  known   to  lie  healthv."     This  no 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIEIK    TREATMENT.  65 

doubt  is  the  surest  way  to  get  rid  of  the  disease  and  wherever 
possible  it  should  be  done.  However,  where  the  disease  is 
found  in  large  flocks  of  birds  such  measures  would  bankrupt 
the  owner.  Or  a  man  may  have  a  very  fine  strain  of  birds 
which  he  has  spent  many  years  in  perfecting  and  which  it 
would  be  impossible  to  replace.  In  such  cases  Alorse  proposes 
"Banging"  out  the  tuberculosis  according  to  the  methods  of 
new-herd-building  in  dairy  cattle  as  proposed  by  Prof.  Bang  of 
Copenhagen.  Atorse's  directions  for  "Banging"  out  tubercu- 
losis are  as  follows:  "Secure  new  or  thoroughly  disinfected 
ground,  keeping  it  absolutely  free  from  contact  with  the  ground 
used  by  the  infected  flock.  Erect  new  houses  on  this  ground. 
Collect  the  eggs  from  the  infected  birds  and  wash  them  in  95 
per  cent  alcohol  or  in  a  4  per  cent  solution  of  some  good  coal 
tar  disinfectant.  Incubate  these  disinfected  eggs  in  new  incu- 
bators. When  hatched,  remove  chicks  to  new  brooder  houses 
on  the  new  ground.  These  growing  chicks  should  be  cared  for 
by  new  men,  that  is  to  say,  either  different  men  from  those  that 
care  for  the  old  flock  or  if  you  are  compelled  to  use  the  same 
men  they  should  disinfect  their  hands  and  shoes  and  put  on 
fresh  overalls  before  handling  the  new  stock.  Have  dififerent 
feed  bins  and  different  pails  for  distributing  it.  As  soon  as  you 
have  built  up  a  clean  flock  destroy  the  old  and  disinfect  the 
ground  occupied  by  them  by  the  method  outlined  above." 

This  method  is,  no  doubt,  excellent  in  theory  and  if  carried 
out  with  complete  and  never-failing  attention  to  details  might 
work.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  in  actual  practice  a 
poultryman  would  ever  be  able  to  carry  it  through  successfully 
or  profitably. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Choi.i-ka. 


F(t\vl  cholera  is  a  virulent.  u>ually  fatal  and  highly  infec- 
tious disease.  It  is  entirely  distinct  from  the  ordinary  forms 
of  enteritis  with  which  it  is  often  confused  l)y  poultrymen. 
Fowl  typhoid  and  infectious  leukaemia  are  also  often  mistaken 
for  cholera.  (Genuine  fowl  cholera  is  rather  rare  in  this  cotm- 
trv  hut  is  much  more  ctimmon  in  Europe.  This  disease  was 
first  reported  in  this  country  ahout  1880  hy  Salmon  (  Rept.  U. 
S.  Comm.  of  Agric. ).  Owing-  to  the  lack  of  proper  bacteriologi- 
cal methods  at  that  time  Salmon  was  not  able  with  certainty  to 
identify  this  disease  with  the  Enropean  cholera.  From  certain 
experimental  work  he  concluded  that  some  of  the  symptoms 
exhibited  h\-  the  disease  in  this  country  were  different  from 
those  described  by  European  writers.  About  1894  Moore  (U. 
S.  Bur.  An.  Ind.,  Bui.  8)  obtained  material  from  several  out- 
l)reaks  of  supposed  cholera  but  found  this  disease  to  dift'er  in 
several  important  respects  from  the  European  trouble.  ]\lore 
recently  Curtice  (R.  I.  Expt.  Stat.  Bui.  87)  has  described  a 
disea.se  similar  to  that  of  Moore's  under  the  name  of  fowl 
typhoid.  Wliat  a])pears  to  be  the  genuine  European  fowl 
cholera  has-l)een  reported  several  times  within  the  last  few- 
years. 

Fowl  cholera  attacks  all  varieties  of  i)oultry ;  also  caged 
birds  and  many  .species  of  wild  birds.  "The  infection  generally 
occurs  bv  taking  food  or  drink  contaminated  with  the  excre- 
ment of  sick  l)ir(ls.  It  is  also  possible  for  birds  to  be  infected 
through  wotmds  of  the  skin  or  l)y  inhalation  of  the  germs  in 
the  form  of  dust  suspendeil  in  the  air.  They  often  take  the 
germs  into  tlieir  bodies  by  consuming  particles  of  tiesh  or  blood 
from  the  carcasses  of  affected  birds  that  have  died  or  have 
been   killed." 

"The  disease  is  generall\-  introduced  upon  a  farm  or  in  a 
locality,  with  new  birds,  purchased  for  improving  the  flocks  or 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  C^J 

with  eggs  for  hatching.  When  it  exists  in  a  (hstrict  it  may  be 
disseminated  by  wild  animals  or  wild  birds.'"  (Salmon). 
Diagnosis-  Salmon  gives  the  following  as  external  symptoms: 
"The  earliest  indication  of  the  disease  is  a  yellow  coloration 
of  the  urates,  or  tliat  part  of  the  excrement  which  is  excreted 
by  the  kidneys.  This  in  health  is  a  pure  white,  though  it  is 
frequently  tinted  with  yellow  as  a  result  of  other  disorders 
than  cholera.  W'liile  therefore  this  yellowish  coloration  of  the 
urates  is  not  an  absolutely  certain  proof  of  cholera,  it  is  a  val- 
uable indication  when  the  disease  has  appeared  in  a  flock  and  an 
effort  is  being  made  to  check  its  course  by  isolating  birds  as 
scon  as  affected.  In  a  few  cases  the  first  .symptom  is  diarrhea 
in  which  the  excrement  is  passed  in  large  (juantities,  and  con- 
sists almost  entirely  of  white  urates  mixed  with  colorless  mucus. 
Generally  the  diarrhea  is  a  prominent  symptom.  Tlie  excre- 
ment is  voided  frequently,  and  consists  largely  of  urates  sus- 
pended in  a  thin,  transparent,  sometimes  frothy  mucus.  The 
urates  have  a  deep  yellow  color,  which  in  the  later  stages  of 
the  disease  may  change  to  greenish  or  even  a  deep  green." 

'■\"ery  soon  after  these  first  syiuptoms  appear  the  bird  sep- 
arates itself  from  the  flock,  it  no  longer  stands  erect,  the  feath- 
ers are  roughened  or  stand  on  end,  the  wings  droop,  the  head 
is  drawn  down  towards  the  body  and  the  general  outline  of 
the  bird  becomes  spherical  or  ball  shaped.  At  this  period  there 
is  great  weakness,  the  aft'ected  bird  Ijecomes  drowsy  and  may 
sink  into  a  deep  sleep  which  la.sts  during  tlie  last  day  or  two 
of  its  life  and  from  which  it  is  almost  impossible  to  arouse 
it.  The  crop  is  nearly  always  distended  with  food  and  appar- 
ently paralyzed.  There  is  in  most  cases  intense  thirst.  If  the 
birds  are  aroused  and  caused  to  walk  there  is  at  first  an  abun- 
dant discharge  of  excrement  followed  at  short  intervals  by 
scanty  evacuations." 

In  regard  to  the  yellow  or  green  excreta  Hadley*  says : 
"This  is  a  very  characteristic  symptom.  The  excrement  of 
normal  fowls  is  not  yellow;  and  when  it  is  green  it  is  a  dark 
green,  approaching  black.  In  cholera  both  yellow  and  green 
are  bright ;  the  green  is  often  an  emerald  green.  These  dift'er- 
ent  colors  may  occur  either  alone  or  separately  and  both  are 

*BulIetin  144  R.  I.  Agr.  Expt.  Stat.  (In  press.)  Tlie  manuscript  of 
this  bulletin  was  very  kindly  loaned  by  Dr.  Hadley. 


Gi^  rOn.TRV   DISEASKS    AND    THKIK    TKEATMKNT. 

usually  acconipanicil  by  diarrhea  and  thick  mucus.  In  case  it 
is  known  that  cholera  is  in  the  neighborhood,  it  is  well  for  a 
poultryman  to  examine,  from  day  to  day,  the  character  of  the 
droppings  on  the  dropping  board." 

"The  course  of  the  disease  may  be  rapid  or  slow  in  its  prog- 
ress through  the  flock.  It  may  take  all  within  a  few  days,  or 
the  fowls  may  drop  ofif  by  twos  and  threes  through  a  period  of 
several  weeks.  After  the  first  symptoms  appear  the  develop- 
ment in  individual  cases  is  usually  rapid.  Forty  cases  investi- 
gated by  Salmon  averaged  3  days,  but  many  birds  die  wnthin 
a  few  hours  after  the  diarrhea  sets  in.  The  time  required  to 
develop  the  disease  after  exposure  or  inoculation  is  given  by 
Salmon  as  4  to  20  days."     (Robinson). 

Examination  of  the  dead  birds  shows  inflammation  of  the 
digestive  organs,  kidneys  and  mesenteries  in  nearly  all  cases. 
According  to  Ward  (Calif.  Expt.  Stat.  Bui.  156)  "punctiform 
hemorrhages  are  found  upon  the  heart  with  almost  absolute 
uniformity.  The  liver  is  very  frequently  marked  with  punc- 
tiform whitish  areas."  Sections  show  that  the  areas  of  necrotic 
tissue  are  present  throughout  the  liver  tissue.  The  blood  ves- 
sels of  the  liver  are  congested.  According  to  Ward  the  next 
most  striking  lesions  are  found  in  the  reddened  and  bleeding 
mucosa  of  the  first  and  second  folds  of  the  small  intestine  (next 
to  the  gizzard).  These  reddened  areas  can  even  be  seen  from 
the  outside  of  the  intestine.  The  intestinal  contents  are  of 
either  a  cream  colored  pasty  mass  or  may  be  brownish  or  even 
green  in  color.  "Lesions  are  very  rarely  obser^-ed  in  other 
portions  of  the  intestine.  The  ureters  are  noticeable  in  prac- 
tically all  cases  by  reason  of  the  yellow-colored  urates  that 
they  contain.  The  nasal  cavity,  pharynx  and  oral  cavity  fre- 
quently contain  a  viscous  mucous  fluid,  probably  regurgitated 
from  the  crop." 

Etiology.  Fowd  cholera  is  caused  by  a  bacterium  known  as 
Bacterium  hipolaris  scpticus.  It  is  closely  related  to  the  bacil- 
lus of  rabbit  septicaemia  and  the  bacillus  of  swine  plague. 
"Under  the  microscope  the  bacterium  presents  either  a  circular 
or  oval  outline.  It  is  about  i  50-thousandth  of  an  inch  broad 
and  2  or  3  times  as  long.  It  grows  best  at  from  85°  to  105°  F. 
It  has  no  power  of  movement,  does  not  form  spores,  and  is  eas- 
ily destroyed  by  drying,  by  the  ordinary  disinfectants  and  by  a 
temperature  of  132°  F.  for  15  minutes."     (Salmon). 


POUI.TRY  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  69 

Fowl  cholera  cannot  be  recognized  with  certainty  except  by  a 
bacteriological  examination.  Practically,  however,  this  makes 
but  little  difference  to  the  poultryman.  The  methods  of  com- 
batting cholera  are  not  radically  different  from  those  used 
against  similar  infectious  diseases.  The  occurrence  of  a  num- 
ber of  sudden  deaths  in  a  Hock  indicate  the  presence  of  an 
infectious  disease  and  call  for  the  inauguration  of  sanitary 
and  remedial  measures  at  once.  At  the  same  time  a  letter  de- 
scribing the  symptoms  should  be  sent  to  the  Division  of  Pathol- 
ogy, Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  Washington,  D.  C.  In  this 
way  the  name  of  the  particular  disease  can  be  determined  and 
advice  as  to  any  specific  treatment  will  be  received. 

Treatment.  "The  best  authorities  on  the  subject  regard  gen- 
uine cholera  as  practically  incurable.  It  is  said  that  none  of  the 
alleged  remedies  have  proved  effective  in  cases  known  to  be 
true  cholera,  and  the  presumption  is  that  the  persons  supposing 
they  had  cured  cholera  with  them  were  treating  some  other 
disease.  While  treatment  of  affected  individuals  is  regarded 
as  futile,  the  spread  of  the  disease  may  be  limited  and  the  dis- 
ease stamped  out  by  disinfection  to  destroy  the  germs  on  the 
premises,  and  by  proper  measures  to  prevent  their  further  distri- 
bution."     (Robinson). 

Dr.  P.  T.  Woods,  who  several  years  ago  wdiile  manager  of 
a  poultry  ranch  in  New  Jersey,  had  considerable  experience  with 
cholera  gives  the  following  method  of  dealing  with  the  disease. 
(Reliable  Poultry  Remedies). 

"As  soon  as  the  disease  is  discovered,  establish  a  pest  house 
remote  from  the  other  poultry  buildings,  a  place  that  can  be 
easily  and  thoroughly  disinfected.  Isolate  all  suspected  cases 
in  the  pest  house  as  soon  as  you  can  find  them.  Give  these 
birds  a  few  drops  of  crcolin  in  their  drinking  water  (just 
enough  to  turn  it  faintly  milky),  or  give  them  drinking  water 
in  which  has  been  dissolved  one  one-tenth  of  a  grain  tablet  of 
corrosive  sublimate  to  the  quart  of  water.  All  birds  which  show 
marked  symptoms  of  the  disease  had  better  be  killed  and  cre- 
mated at  once.  This  is  safest  and  best.  Kill  them  by  strang- 
ling or  by  a  sharp  blow  with  a  1)lunt  club,  l)reaking  the  neck. 
Do  not  draw  blood,  as  the  blood  is  infectious,  and  you  do  not 
want  to  spill  it.  If  they  bleed,  scrape  up  all  the  blood  and 
burn  with  the  body,  and  disinfect  the  place  where  it  fell.    Rake 


70  POri.TKV    niSKASES    AND    TIIF.IK    TKKATMKXT. 

up  ami  burn  all  lilltT  u>ch1  in  hou><.>  nr  runs  (>ccu|)ic(l  by  in- 
fected birds.  Spray  the  runs  and  all  ])arts  of  the  buildings 
with  a  strong  solution  of  creolin.  or  a  i  i)er  cent  sohition  of 
suli)huric  acid  in  water.  Do  not  use  any  litter  until  you  are 
sure  that  the  disease  is  eradicated,  'riiordu^hly  disinfect  every- 
thing that  could  possibly  be  contaminated  b\-  the  infected  fowls, 
and  repeat  this  as  often  as  you  find  a  new  case.  The  runs  or 
yards  .should  be  thoroughly  disinfected  and  should  be  ploughed 
up  often," 

In  connection  with  his  work  on  an  outbreak  of  fowl  cholera  in 
California,  Ward  points  out  the  following  important  conclusion: 
"Cholera  and  other  infectious  diseases  may  exist  in  a  fowl  in 
a  sort  of  inactive  chronic  condition  and  there  is  no  doubt  con- 
cerning the  agency  of  such  a  case  in  spreading  the  disease. 
Thus,  fowls  not  suspected  of  being  diseased  may  have  the  dis- 
ease smouldering  among  them.  The  fact  that  occasionally  a 
single  fowl  dies  of  cholera  means  that  a  severe  loss  may  occur 
at  any  time." 

The  practical  recommendation  for  an  outbreak  of  fowl  chol- 
era then  is  to  kill  and  destroy  all  sick  birds,  confine  all  well 
birds  to  small  runs.  Disinfect  these  runs  and  the  houses  daily. 
After  the  outbreak  is  over  and  the  birds  have  ceased  dying  it 
is  best  to  market  all  flocks  in  which  the  cholera  appeared.  This 
latter  precaution  will  often  prevent  a  second  outbreak  some 
months  later. 

^Methods  of  prevention  are  always  the  most  satisfactory.  The 
careful  poultryman  will  guard  his  flock  against  all  infectious 
diseases  by  methods  of  quarantine,  disinfection  and  general 
cleanliness.  At  the  saiue  time  the  birds  should  be  fed  to  keep 
them  in  the  best  of  health.     On  these  points  read  Chapter  II. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Philip  B.  Hadley  the  writers 
have  had  the  opportunity  to  read  the  manuscript  of  Bulletin  144 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Experiment  Station  dealing  with  fowl 
cholera.  On  the  l)asis  of  his  experimental  work  Dr.  Hadley 
recommends  su])cutaneous  injections  of  5  per  cent  carbolic  acid 
as  a  treatment  for  indix'idual  Ijirds.  In  the  summary  of  this 
linlletin  Dr.  I  ladley  says:  "'At  the  Rhode  Island  Station  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  prevent  the  development  in  fowls 
of  cholera  artificially  produced  by  inoculation  with  the  fowl 
cholera   organism.     The   protective   inoculations  have   involved 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    T  1 1  K  I  K     IKIvATMENT.  yi 

subcutaneims  iniK-ulati(in<  with  a  5  ]ior  cent  solution  of  carl^olic 
acid  in  amounts  of  from  2  to  4  c.  c.  daily." 

"The  results  thus  far  secured  show  tliat  the  inoculations  as 
gi\en  ])rotected  artificially  infected  Ijirds.  and  did  no  harm  to 
birds  that  were  in  normal  health.  They  therefcjre  suggest  that 
subcutaneous  inoculations  with  carbolic  acid  have  a  protective 
and  perhaps  a  therai)eutic  value  in   fowl  cholera." 


CHAPTER    X. 


Diseases  of  the  Abdominal  Cavity. 
Peritonitis. 

The  thin  serous  memlirane  which  Hues  the  abdominal  cavity 
and  covers  the  internal  organs  is  called  the  peritoneum.  In- 
flammation of  this  membrane  may  occur  in  connection  with 
the  inflammation  of  certain  internal  organs  such  as  the  intes- 
tines, liver,  kidneys,  etc.  In  these  cases  the  inflammation  ex- 
tends from  the  diseased  organs  on  to  the  wall  of  the  body 
cavity.  Peritonitis  may  also  be  caused  by  the  entrance  of 
foreign  bodies  into  tlie  abdominal  cavity.  It  may  further  be 
caused  by  severe  bruises  or  injuries  of  the  abdominal  wall. 

Foreign  bodies  enter  the  abdominal  cavity  chiefly  through 
perforation  of  the  intestine.  This  may  occur  through  severe 
inflammation,  by  sharp-pointed  objects  pushing  through  the 
intestinal  wall  or  by  parasitic  round  worms  or  other  parasites 
puncturing  the  wall.  In  many  cases  mature  eggs  separate 
from  the  ovary  but  fail  to  enter  the  oviduct.  Or,  owing  to 
rupture  of  the  oviduct  or  a  reversal  of  its  peristalsis,  the  tgg 
substance  may  enter  the  abdominal  cavity.  Usually  these  eggs 
are  absorbed  or  walled  off  without  very  serious  annoyance  to 
the  bird.  In  other  cases  they  may  cause  severe  peritonitis. 
Finally  foreign  bodies  may  enter  the  abdomen  through  such 
operations  as  caponizing. 

Diagnosis. — The  sick  birds  appear  restless  and  lose  their 
appetite.  There  is  a  high  fever.  The  abdomen  is  swollen,  hot 
and  tender.  Pressure  on  the  abdomen  produces  evidence  of 
sharp  pain.  Usually,  but  not  always,  a  severe  thirst  accom- 
panies peritonitis.  As  the  disease  progresses  the  bird  becomes 
weaker,  is  unable  to  stand  and  the  legs  are  drawn  up  clo'^c  to 
the  body  often  with  convulsive  movements. 

Post-mortem  examination  shows  the  peritoneal  membrane  to 
be  deep  red  in  color  (provided  the  bird  has  just  died  or  has 
been  freshly  killed  without  bleeding).     This  membrane  is  usu- 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  73 

ally  covered  with  a  thick  opaque  yellowish  exudate.  This  gives 
it  the  appearance  of  ])eing  much  thicker  than  usual.  In  some 
cases  small  lumps  of  whitish  matter  (pus)  are  found.  The 
abdomen  may  contain  more  or  less  liquid  which  is  usually  yel- 
lowish and  turbid  and  may  have  an  offensive  odor.  If  a  mis- 
carried Qgg  is  the  cause  of  the  trouble  portions  of  this  will 
usually  be  found. 

Treatment  and  Prognosis. — Only  very  seldom  is  treatment 
for  peritonitis  successful.  The  disease  is  not  usually  recog- 
nized until  in  an  advanced  age.  Ziirn  recommends  w^rapping 
parts  of  the  bird  in  wet  cloths  and  to  give  internally  tincture  of 
aconite,  2  drops  (at  the  most)  with  a  teaspoonful  of  water  2  or 
3  times  a  day.  Sanborn  recommends  i  grain  opium  pills  twice 
a  day  to  relieve  pain,  and  warm  liquid  foods  such  as  meat  juice 
and  milk  in  equal  parts. 

Abdominal  Dropsy  or  Ascites. 

Etiology. — This  disease  is  sometimes  called  chronic  peritonitis. 
It  is  characterized  by  the  accumulation  of  a  large  quantity  of 
liquid  in  the  abdominal  cavity.  In  some  cases  the  abdomen 
iDecomes  so  distended  that  it  nearly  or  quite  touches  the  ground 
when  the  bird  is  standing.  Salmon  says:  "If  examined  by 
slight  pressure  of  the  hand  the  swelling  is  found  to  be  soft  and 
fluctuating;  it  will  yield  in  one  place  and  cause  greater  disten- 
sion at  another.  That  is,  it  gives  the  sensation  of  a  sac  filled 
with  liquid." 

Abdominal  dropsy  may  begin  with  a  mild  case  of  peritonitis 
Avhich  has  continued  for  a  long  time  without  becoming  serious. 
In  young  chicks  it  is  said  to  be  due  to  an  anaemic  condition 
produced  by  bed  feeding  and  insanitary  conditions.  In  older 
birds  it  may  also  result  from  this  same  cause  or  may  be  due  to 
some  obstruction  of  the  venous  circulation  either  by  a  tumor  or 
by  some  structural  disease  of  the  abdominal  organs. 

Diagnosis. — The  most  marked  symptom,  of  course,  is  the 
enlarged,  flabby  abdomen.  Salmon  says:  "Fowls  affected  in 
this  way  are  dull,  disinclined  to  move,  generally  feeble  with 
pale  comb  and  diminished  appetite." 

Treatment. — "Treatment  of  this  condition  is  not  profitable, 
"but  in  special  cases,  stimulating  diet  with  considerable  animal 
food,  tonics  and  diuretics,  may  be  tried.     Iodide  of  potassium 


74  I'OII.TKV    DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

or  iodide  <>t  iron  in  iloses  of  i  grain  is  particularly  indicated." 
(  Salmon. )  Tapping  with  a  hollow  needle  or  trocar  through  the 
.skin  and  muscles  of  the  abdomen  and  allowing  the  fluid  to 
escape  is  also  recommended.  It  will  usually  be  found  more 
profitable  to  kill  the  bird. 


CHAPTER    XL 


Internal  Parasites. 

Fowls  are  often  seriously  infested  with  internal  parasites. 
The  most  important  of  these  are  various  worms  living  in  the 
alimentary  canal.  In  p()])ular  usage  these  are  spoken  of  simi)ly 
as  "worms."  \'arious  other  internal  parasites  as  the  gape 
worm,  the  air  sac  mite,  etc..  are  described  in  other  sections  of 
this  book.  Tlie  present  discussion  will  be  confined  to  intes- 
tinal worms. 

Regarding  these  Robinson  says :  "Worms  in  small  quantities 
inhal)it  the  digestive  organs  of  all  fowls  and  animals  without 
causing  them  serious  inconvenience.  It  is  even  maintained  by 
some  authorities  tliat  in  limited  numbers  these  parasites  are 
beneficial,  though  in  just  what  way  they  are  beneficial  I  have 
never  seen  stated,  and  it  seems  more  reasonable,  in  the  present 
state  of  knowledge  of  the  subject,  to  claim  no  more  than  that 
when  not  too  numerous  they  do  no  perceptible  harm.  Worms 
are  contagious  in  that  they  are  transmitted  from  fowl  to.fowd, 
probably  always  indirectly  by  being  deposited  on  the  ground  by 
one  fowl  and  taken  from  it  by  another ;  but  if  it  is  true  as  stated 
that  worms  in  small  numbers  are  always  present,  contagion  is 
not  re(|uired  to  account  for  their  increase  to  troublesome  num- 
bers in  many  nicnibers  of  a  Hock  simultaneously.  The  more 
reasonable  assumption  in  the  ])rcmises  is  that  all  these  fowls 
alike  were  in  a  condition  favorable  to  an  excessive  development 
of  the  parasites.  This  is  a  phase  of  the  question  on  which  the 
literature  of  the  subject  has  done  nothing — yet  it  seems  to  be 
tlie  all-imj)ortant  point  to  determine." 

Diacjnosis  of  IVonns  in  General. — Accurate  diagnosis  of 
worms  in  the  intestines  can  be  made  only  by  finding  the  worms 
in  the  droppings  of  the  fowls.  Fowls  affected  witli  worms  to 
any  great  extent  frc(|ucntly  show  the  general  symptoms  of  dull- 
ness and  depression.  I'.irds  that  are  suspected  of  being  aft'ected 
with  worms  should  be  shut  up  in  a  cooj)  and  given  a  do.se  of 


76  POUU'RY  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

some  vermifuge  or  a  purgative  dose  of  Epsom  salts.  If  careful 
observation  of  the  droppings  are  made  at  frequent  intervals  the 
worms,  if  present,  can  usually  be  detected  in  this  way.  This 
is  not,  however,  an  infallible  test.  Regarding  further  measures 
Robinson  says:  "If  efforts  to  secure  evidence  from  the  living 
fowls  of  tlic  i)resence  of  w^orms  fail,  and  the  poultryman  is  at 
a  loss  to  account  for  the  trouble  with  his  fowls,  a  suspected  fowl 
should  1)0  killed  and  examined,  and  if  this  is  still  insufficient, 
the  case  should  be  taken  to  a  competent  veterinary.  It  is  of 
greatest  importance  that  the  facts  in  such  cases  be  learned  and 
proper  trcatnient  given,  for  wdiether  the  worms  cause  the  trouble 
or  conditions  exist  which  favor  their  increase,  the  situation  is 
full  of  danger  to  the  keeper  of  a  flock  in  which  serious  trouble 
is  associated  with  worms ;  and  while  I  do  not  wish  to  unneces- 
sarily alarm  an\'onc,  the  fact  that  in  recent  years  worms  in  epi- 
demic form  have  put  a  number  of  poultry  plants  out  of  busi- 
ness, should  be  stated  as  a  warning  to  poultrymen  troubled  with 
imidentified  diseases  presenting  symptoms  which  might  be  asso- 
ciated with  worms." 

The  principal  parasitic  w'orms  which  affect  the  digestive  tract 
of  fowds  may  be  grouped  into  three  classes  as  follows :  Tape 
worms,  round  worms  and  flukes. 

Tape    Worms. 

Tape  worms  have  long  been  known  to  infest  domestic  poultr}-. 
Occasionally  serious  outbreaks  of  the  tape  worm  disease  occur 
in  various  parts  of  the  country.  These  outbreaks  are  usually 
confined  to  comparatively  small  areas  and  are  perhaps  more 
common  in  the  southern  states. 

Etiology. — The  tape  worms  of  poultry,  like  those  which  infest 
man  and  the  domestic  animals,  are  long,  flat,  segmented  worms, 
(fig.  6.)  The  anterior  end  of  the  animal  possesses  a  number 
of  hooks  or  suckers  by  which  it  attaches  itself  to  the  walls  of 
the  intestine.  Back  of  this  head  the  entire  animal  consists  of  a 
long  series  of  segments  or  proglottids.  The  segments  nearest 
the  head  are  the  smallest  and  it  is  at  this  region  that  new  seg- 
ments are  constantly  being  formed.  The  farther  from  the  head 
they  get  the  larger  the  segments  become.  Towards  the  pos- 
terior end  of  the  worm  the  segments  develop  sexual  organs  and 
later    become    filled    with    eggs.     As    soon    as    tlie    eggs    are 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR  TREATMENT. 


17 


I 


I 


fertilized    and    mature    the    segment 
^A  Cy~W^\      containing  them  tlrops  off  and  passes 

to  the  exterior  with  the  feces  of  the 
^  H  !_/  f^^  host.  Each  segment  of  this  kind 
.5        B      r-n         L— ,     contains  thousands  of  eggs. 

If  these  eggs  are  to  develop  far- 
ther they  must  be  swallowed  by  some 
intermediate  host  (as  a  worm,  snail 
or    insect).      The   tgg  then   hatches 
into  a  6-hooked  embryo  which  bores 
its  way  from  the  intestine  into  the 
bodv  cavity  of  the  intermediate  host. 
It  here  develops  into  a  larval  form 
known  as  a  cysticcrcoid.     When  the 
intermediate  host  (worm,  snail,  etc.) 
is  eaten  by  a  chicken  this  larva  con- 
tinues   its    development    and    forms 
an    adult    tape    worm.     Thus    there 
are  two  stages  in  the  life  cycle  of  a 
tape  worm:   that  in  the   adult   host 
and   that   in    the    intermediate   host. 
Each  species  of  tape  worm,  of  which 
there  are  a  great  many,  has  its  par- 
ticular  host,   both  intennediate   and 
final. 

According  to  Stiles  (Bur.  An. 
Ind.  Bui.  12)  there  were  up  to  1896, 
33  species  of  tape  worms  recorded 
for  poultry.  Of  these  1 1  are  re- 
corded as  occurring  in  chickens. 
The  complete  life  history  is  known 
Regarding  the  tape  worms  of  chick- 
p.  13  :  '■(  They)  are  knoziii  to  become 
infected  with  one  tape  worm  through  eating  slugs  (Limax). 
They  are  supposed  to  become  infected  with  a  second  through 
eating  snails  (Helix)  :  by  a  third  through  eating  flies  and  by  a 
fourth  through  eating  earth  worms." 

There  seems  but  little  need  to  give  a  description  of  the  differ- 
ent species  of  tape  worms  found  in  chickens.  The  characters 
by  which  they  are  distinguished  from  each  other  are  too  minute 
and  involved  to  be  of  use  to  the  poultryman  or  farmer.  If  any- 
one is  having  trouble  with  tape  worms  in  poultry  the  best  thing 


Fig.  6.  Drepanidotacnia  in 
fundibulifoniiis.  a  tape 
worm  of  the  fowl.  (Af- 
ter Stiles). 

for  only  a  few  of  these, 
ens.  Stiles  (/or.  cit.)  says. 


78 


POL'LTRV    DISEASES    AND    Til  I.IK    TREATMENT. 


to  do  is  to  send  a  portion  of  the  intestine  containing  the  worms 
to  tlie  Zoological  Division,  ihneau  of  Animal  Indnstry.  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agricultnre.  Washington.  D.  C.  In  this  way 
the  worms  will  he  idcntiticd  and  any  s])C'cilic  remedies  will  be 
recommended. 

Xoditlar  Ta-iiiasis. 
Stiles  says,  p.  15:  "At  least  one  specie«  of  tape  worm  {Da- 
■raiiwa  tctragona)  causes  a  serious  nodular  disease  of  the  intes- 
tine of  chickens  whicli  u])on  su])erticial  examination  ma\'  be 
easily  mistaken  for  tuberculosis."  Moore  says  (liur.  .\n.  Ind. 
Circ.   Xo.  3.    1895)  : 

"Tuberculosis  is  the  only  known  disease 
for  which  this  affection  is  liable  to  be  mis- 
taken, and  it  is  of  much  importance  that 
the  two  diseases  should  not  be  confounded. 
The  diagnosis  has  not  in  my  experience 
been  difficult,  as  in  every  case  the  attached 
tape  worms  were  readily  detected  upon  a 
close  examination  (jf  the  intestinal  con- 
tents, or  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 
infected  portion  of  the  intestine.  How- 
ever, the  worms  are  quite  small  and  could 
easily  be  overlooked  in  a  hurried  or  cursory 
examination.  In  case  of  doubt,  if  the  af- 
fected intestine  is  opened  and  the  mucous 
surface  washed  carefully  in  a  gentle  stream 
of  water,  the  small  worms  will  be  observed 
hanging  to  the  mucous  membrane.  This 
discovery,  in  the  absence  of  lesions  in  the 
liver  or  other  organs,  would  warrant  the 
diagnosis  of  the  tape  worm  disease." 

Diagnosis. — The  symptoms  of  tape  worm 
disease  are  not  specific.  The  general  symp- 
toms are  similar  to  those  of  other  worms 
(cf.  p.  75).  Regarding  the  symptoms  of 
tai)e  worms  Stiles  quotes  the  following 
from  Ziirn :  'Tf  numerous  tape  worms  are 
present  in  the  intestine  of  young  or  old 
fowls  a  more  or  less  extensive  intestinal 
catarrh  develops,  corresponding  to  the 
greater  or  less  number  of  parasites  present." 


Fig.  7.  Intestine  of 
a  fowl  turned 
v/rong  side  out  to 
show  tape  worms 
in  nodular  tae- 
n  i  a  s  i  s.  After 
Pearson  and  War- 
ren). 


POL'LTKV    DISEASES    AND    THKIK    TKl'.A  T  M  KXT.  79 

"'IMk'  intestinal  catarrh  sliows  itself,  especially  in  chickens  and 
geese,  as  follows:  The  sick  animals  become  emaciated,  althouj^h 
the  appetite  is  not  especially  disturbed.  At  times  the  appetite 
is  even  increased.  The  dro])pin<4S  are  thin,  contain  considerable 
yellow  slime,  and  are  passed  in  small  quantities  but  at  short 
intervals.  The  poultry  raiser  must  direct  his  attention  to  these 
thin,  slimv,  and  often  blo(->dv  droiipings.  for  if  any  treatment 
against  the  taj^e  worm  is  to  be  undertaken,  this  mtist  Ije  done  as 
early  as  possible.  In  ol)serving  the  dro])])ings  it  should  be 
noticed  whether  tape  worm  segments  or  (.^gg^  are  present.  The 
eggs  can  be  seen,  of  course,  only  with  the  microscope." 

"After  a  time  other  symptoms  develop.  The  sick  animals 
become  dull  and  listless,  remain  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  tlock 
— the  feathers  are  ruffled  and  the  wings  droop,  the  appetite  is  lost 
and  the  birds  allow  themselves  to  be  easily  caught.  Although 
it  was  stated  that  in  the  beginning  of  the  trouble  the  a])petite  is 
not  disturbed,  the  sick  animals  develop  an  intense  thirst  for  cold 
water.  When  it  rains  they  run  under  the  eaves  in  order  to 
■catch  water,  and  in  winter  are  eager  for  ice  water." 

Since  the  examination  of  the  feces  for  tajoe  worm  segments 
is  ratlier  unsatisfactory  for  the  farmer  or  poultryman,  vStiles 
says  tliat  "Tlie  best  method  for  the  farmer  to  follow  is  to  kill 
one  of  the  sick  chickens  when  he  suspects  tape  worms  and  to 
ctit  out  the  intestine.  He  should  then  open  the  intestinal  tract 
from  gizzard  to  anus  in  a  bowl  of  warm  water,  and  look  for 
the  parasites."  ( Cf .  fig.  /).  Finding  the  worms  in  the  ali- 
mentary canal  is  the  only  certain  diagnosis  of  the  (Hsease. 

Treatment. — The  chief  drugs  used  for  tape  worms  in  fowls 
are:  Extract  of  male  fern,  turpentine,  areca  nut.  powdered 
kamala,  pumpkin  seed,  pomegranate  root  bark  and  Epsom  salts. 
The  following  extract  from  Salmon  gives  the  principal  methods 
of  treatment  and  the  doses:  "One  of  the  best  methods  of  treat- 
ing tape  worms  in  fowls  is  to  mix  in  the  feed  a  teaspoonful  of 
powdered  pomegranate  root  bark  for  every  50  head  of  birds. 
In  treating  a  few  birds  at  a  time  it  is  well  to  follow  this  medicine 
with  a  purgative  dose  of  castor  oil  (2  or  3  tea.spoonsful ). 
According  to  Ziirn,  powdered  areca  nut  is  the  best  tape  worm 
remedy  for  fowls,  but  he  states  that  turkeys  are  im favorably 
affected  by  it.  It  may  Ix-  gi\en  in  doses  of  30  to  45  grains  mixed 
with  butter  and  made  into  pills.  Male  fern  is  also  a  very 
eft'ectual  remedy  and  may  be  used  in  the  form  of  powder  (dose 


8o 


POUUTRV    DISKASES    AND    TIIKIK    TKKATMENT, 


30  grains  ti>  i  ilram  )  or  "l"  li<nnil  extract  (dose  15  to  30  drops). 
It  should  1)0  gi\cn  in  the  morning  and  evening,  before  feeding. 
Oil  of  turjientine  is  an  excellent  remedy  for  all  worms  which 
inliabil  the  digestive  canal.  It  may  be  given  in  the  dose  of  i  to 
3  teasiKionfnls.  and  is  licst  administered  by  forcing  it  through  a 
small  flexible  catheter  tliat  has  been  oiled  and  passed  through 
the  mouth  and  oesophagus  to  the  crop.  This  medicine  is  less 
severe  in  its  effects  if  diluted  with  an  equal  bulk  of  olive  oil, 
l)ut,  if  it  fails  to  destroy  the  parasites  when  so  diluted,  it  may  be 
given  pure.  The  method  of  administering  medicine  by  deposit- 
ing it  directly  in  the  crop  can  be  advantageously  used  with  many 
other  li(|uid  remedies,  and  should  be  adopted  in  all  cases  where 
it  is  important  to  have  the  full  dose  in  the  stomach  in  a  short 
time.  Tt  does  away  with  the  uncertainty  attending  the  giving 
of  medicine  in  the  feed  or  drinking  water,  and  with  a  little 
practice  is  more  expeditious  than  making  and  giving  pills.  The 
open  end  of  the  catheter  may  be  inserted  into  a  rubber  bulb 
having  one  opening.  Just  sufficient  air  should  be  expelled  from 
tlie  bulb,  so  that  the  dose  of  medicine  will  be  sucked  up  without 


^-^-^>^^""5^— Ail 


/■\\f^ 'Windpipe  . 
C-i/l/et. 


O^.Q- 


Fig.  8.     Sketch  showing  method  of  introducing  turpentine  directly 
into  crop.     (From  Gage  and  Opperman). 


POUI.TKV    DISEASlvS    AND    TIIKIR    TKKAT MKXT.  Bl 

beinsr  followed  l)v  much  air.  TIk'  bird's  head  is  then  hruiight 
in  a  line  with  the  neck,  which  is  extended,  the  catheter  is  passed 
carefully  to  the  crop,  when  a  slight  pressure  on  the  bulb  forces 
out  the  medicine,  and  the  instrument  is  witluhawn.  The  opera- 
tor should  be  sure  that  he  avoids  the  trachea." 

More  recently  Gage  and  Opperman*  have  found  Ep.-.om  salts 
and  turpentine  a  very  effective  remedy  for  Nodular  T?eniasis. 
After  careful  consideration  of  the  data  they  conclude  that  "40 
to  50  grains  of  Epsom  salts  is  sufficient  for  an  adult  fowl  in 
order  to  clean  out  the  intestinal  tract  so  that  the  birds  may  take 
food.  Then  the  turpentine  should  be  introduced"  as  directed 
above.  For  younger  birds  the  dose  of  salts  should  be  propor- 
tionately less.  In  fowds  from  6  months  to  2  years  old  the  salts 
are  best  given  by  dissolving  in  water  and  giving  each  fowl  this 
liquid.  For  younger  chicks  the  salts  may  be  dissolved  in  warm 
water  and  used  to  moisten  the  mash  or  feed. 

Prevention. — The  following  statement  by  Salmon  gives  some 
of  the  chief  preventative  measures:  "Parasitic  infestation  of  the 
digestive  tract  should  be  guarded  against  by  hygienic  measures 
so  far  as  possible.  One  of  the  most  important  of  these  measures 
is  to  move  the  fowls  upon  fresh  ground  every  2  or  3  years,  or 
certainly  in  all  cases  where  such  parasites  are  frequently  ob- 
served in  the  intestines  of  the  birds.  Another  practical  measure, 
v^'hich  may  be  adopted  at  the  same  time,  is  to  remove  the  excre- 
ment daily  from  the  houses  and  destroy  any  parasites  or  their 
eggs  which  may  be  in  it.  by  mixing  it  with  quick  lime  or  satu- 
rating it  with  a  10  per  cent  solution  of  sulphuric  acid.  The  acid 
is  cheap,  but  requires  that  great  care  be  taken  in  diluting  it, 
owing  to  danger  of  its  splashing  upon  the  clothing  and  flesh  and 
causing  severe  burns.  It  should  always  be  poured  slowly  into 
the  water  used  for  dilution,  but  on  no  account  should  water  be 
poured  into  the  acid  as  it  will  cause  explosions  and  splashing." 

"When  treating  diseased  birds  these  should  always  be  isolated 
and  confined,  and  their  droppings  should  cither  be  burned  or 
treated  with  lime  or  sulphuric  acid  as  just  recommended.  With- 
out these  hygienic  measures,  medical  treatment  can  only  be  par- 
tially successful." 

Stiles  says:  "An  extermination  oi  slugs  will  insure  immunity 
against  Davainca  proglott'via,  but  n<«  precise  (Hrections  can  be 


*Md.  Agric.  Expt.  Stat.  Bui.   139,   1909. 
6 


H2 


I'ori.Tin'  nisi:.\si:s  and  tiii:ik  tkeatmkxt. 


given  I  )  prevent  chickens  from  becoming  infected  witli  other 
ta])e  vornis  until  the  life  lii^loiy  of  these  ])arasites  i>  better 
understood.  It  will  be  well,  however,  to  keep  the  chickens 
housed  in  the  morning  until  the  sun  is  well  u])  and  the  ground 
is  (Ir_\-.  for  they  will  thus  be  less  likely  to  meet  with  the  sup- 
])Osable  intermediate  hosts  of  other  worms." 

Round    U'oriJis. 

Round  worms  can  be  found  in  the  intestine  and  especially  the 

ceca  of  almost  any  fowl.     They  are  much  more  common  than 

the  tape  worms.     Normall}'  the  round  W(_)rms  cause  no  serious 

trouble  to  fowls.     Under  certain  conditions,  however,  they  may 

become  so  numerous  as  to 
l)e  a  serious  menace  to  the 
dock.  At  such  times  they 
have  a  decided  effect  on 
the  digestion ;  the  irrita- 
tion often  causes  diarrhea. 
A\dien  in  large  numbers, 
they  sometimes  become 
rolled  and  matted  into  a 
ball  which  may  cause 
complete  stoppage  of  the 
intestine. 

The  round  worms  are 
white  in  color  and  vary  in 
length  from  1-3  inch  to  5 
inches.  The  head  end  is 
sharp  pointed,  while  the 
tail  end  is  more  blunt. 
Koimd  worms  are  seldom 
I)assed  in  the  feces  unless 
present  in  very  large  num- 
bers. When  a  wt)rm  is 
passed  it  soon  dies  in  the 
droppings  or  is  eaten  by 
another  fowl. 
Dispharagus  spiralis,  a  small  worm  about  1-3  inch  in  length, 
is  often  found  in  the  resophagus  and  occasionally  in  the  crop  or 
intestine. 


Fig.  9.  Worms  protruding  from  a  sec- 
tion of  the  intestine  of  a  fowl 
L\ftcr  Bradshaw). 


POUI.TKV    IMSF.ASES    AND    TIIF.IK    TKKATMKNT. 


83 


Dispharagns  nasiitus.  about  J4  incli  long,  occurs  in  the  walls 
of  tin-  gizzard  of  f(^\vls.  It  sometimes  becomes  so  numerous 
as  to  cause  serious  loss. 

licti-ralcis  pcrsf^icillinn.  fn.m  i>j  to  3 
inches  long,  is  very  common  in  the  intes- 
tines of  fowls.  They  sometimes  become 
very  numerous  and  may  become  rolled  into 
rather  large  balls  which  obstruct  the  pas- 
sage of  the  food. 

Several  other  species  of  the  genus  Hctcr- 
akis  also  infest  fowls  and  other  poultry. 

Diagnosis. — The  symptoms  of  round 
worms  are  similar  to  those  of  ail  worms 
(of.  p.  JS)-  There  is  evidence  of  indiges- 
tion. The  comb  becomes  pale  and  there 
may  be  diarrhea. 

Treatment. — The  remedies  mentioned  on 
p.  79  for  tape  worms  are  also  useful  for 
round  worms.  The  remedy  most  com- 
monly advised  is  to  give  2  grains  santonine 
for  each  bird.  Dissolve  this  in  water  and 
use  to  mix  the  wash.  As  recommended  on 
p.  79,  all  droppings  should  be  collected  and 
examined,    also   put    out   of    reach    of    the 

birds.  ^'^■. -"'■•//  ^^''''''''''" 

\'ale  recommends  the  following:     "Beat     '"''^r"'  "'"■ 

°  .       a,    male,    b,    female. 

a  new  laid  egg  with  i  tablespoonful  of  oil     ^^        (From     Sal- 

of  turpentine  and  mix  thoroughly  by  .shak-     nion). 

ing.     Give    a   teaspoonful   of    the    mixture 

night  and  morning  for  a  few  days ;  or  divide  j4  o^  an  ounce  of 

areca  nut  in  powder,  into  4  parts,  and  give  i  part  each  morning, 

fasting,  with  a  dessertspoonful  of  sweet  oil  2  hours  after  each 

powder." 

Flukes. 

Flukes  or  trematode  worms  are  small,  fiat  and  usually  oval- 
shaped.  Fig.  1 1  gives  a  fair  idea  of  the  ai)pearance  of  these  par- 
asites. 


S4 


ron.TKv  DISEASES  and  tiii 


■ki:.\tmi:nt. 


Trematodc    worm    or 


Rci^Mrdin.t,^  these  parasites  in 
poultry,  The'diald  (Parasitic 
Diseases  of  I'Dultry.  London) 
says :  "The  Trematodc  worms 
or  Fhikes  found  in  ihc  fowl  are 
3  in  number.  ( )ne  is  found  in 
the  egg  (Distoma  o-ratimn,  the 
otlurs  in  tlTe  oesophagus  and  in- 
testines." 

"The  Fluke  found  in  the  neso- 
l>ha,!4Lis  of  the  fowl  is  known  as 
CcphaIo(joiii)}iiis  pcllitcidus,  a 
transparent  reddish  fluke  about 
9  mm.  long.  These  were  found 
by  Von  Linstow  and  Railliet. 
In  the  intestines  Neumann  enu- 
merates 7  species,  namely,  Noto- 
cotylc  triscrialis  Distomc  oxycc- 
phahim,  Rud.,  D.  dilatatum, 
Miriam.  D.  lincarc,  Zeder,  D. 
ovatiim,  D.  armatnm,  Molin,  and 
Mcsogonimus  commutatus,  Sons. 


These,  however,  are  not  all  dis- 


Fig.    II 

fluke      showing      intern  a 
structure.      (From     Thomp-     t'^^'t ;    dilatatum   is   undoubtedly 
son  after  Sommer).  the  same  as  oxyccphalum ;  arma- 

tnm is  also  probably  the  same." 
"None  of  these  Trematodc  worms  are  of  any  pathological  im- 
portance, although,  as  is  well  known,  they  often  cause  serious 
malaflies  in  other  animals.  All  the  Flukes  that  have  two  hosts 
underg)  a  complicated  metamorphosis,  the  early  stages  always 
taking  place  in  some  water-molluse.  Those  found  in  Galliis  do- 
jucsficits  have  not  had  their  life-histories  worked  out." 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  System. 

Anatomy   and  Physiology. 

The  respiratory  organs  of  birds  are  the  nasal  passages,  the 
pharynx,  larynx,  trachea,  lungs  and  air  sacs.  The  form  and 
general  appearance  of  the  lungs  and  trachea  are  shown  in  fig. 


12 


B 

Fig.  12.  Lungs  of  a 
bird.  A,  lower  sur- 
face. B,  upper  sur- 
face.  (After    Salmon). 


if 


Fig.  13.  Right  lung 
of  a  goose.  A, 
primary  branches. 
b,  and  b',  open- 
ings into  abdomi- 
nal and  thoracic 
air  sacs,  c,  c,  sec- 
o  n  d  a  r  y  bronchi. 
(After  Owen). 


The  respiratory  apparatus  differs  somewhat  in  structure  and 
function  from  that  of  mammals.  As  in  mammals  the  trachea 
(wind-pipe)  divides  into  the  primary  bronchi,  cme  passing  to 
each  lung.     In  birds  these  bronchi  do  not  divide  and  subdivide 


86  I'liLI.TKV    DISEASES    AND    TlllJK    TKF.AT.MKNT. 

as  in  nianimals  but  each  passes  to  the  posterior  end  of  its  hing 
and  where  it  opens  into  the  abdominal  air  sac.  This  relation  is 
shown  in  fig.  13. 

Til  the  liuij;-  the  primary  bronchus  gives  off  branches  (sec- 
ondar\-  bn>nchij  some  of  which  end  blindly  (cf.  fig.  13).  The 
secontlary  branches  give  off  branches  (tertiary  bronchi)  all  of 
which  end  blindly  (cf.  fig.  14).  This  tubular  system  makes  up 
the  air-containing  portion  of  the  lungs.  It  is  imbedded  in  a 
net-work  of  almost  naked  blood  vessels  which  make  up  the 
spongy  tissue  of  the  lungs  (cf.  fig.  14).  The  aeration  of  the 
blood  takes  place  through  the  w^alls  of  these  vessels.  The  rela- 
tions of  this  tubular  system  of  the  lungs  are  shown  in  fig.  14. 

The  air  sacs  arc  very  large,  thin-walled  sacs  which  open  into 
the  bronchial  tubes  as  described.  They  function  chiefly  as  res- 
ervoirs of  air  so  that  fresh  air  is  supplied  to  the  lungs  twace  dur- 
ing each  breath.  The  air  passes  through  the  lungs  into  them 
during  inspiration  and  during  expiration  the  lungs  are  filled 
with  the  air  forced  back  from  the  sacs.  Some  aeration  of  blood 
takes  place  in  the  sacs  and  they  also  help  to  reduce  the  relative 
weight  of  the  body.  In  addition  to  aeration  of  the  blood,  the 
respiratory  apparatus  eliminates  most  of  the  waste  moisture  of 
the  body  and  is.  therefore,  the  temperature  regulator.  In  mam- 
mals this  function  is  performed  by  the  sweat  glands  and  the  se- 
cretion of  the  kidneys.  Birds  have  no  sweat  glands  and  the 
secretion  of  the  kidneys  contains  relatively  little  moisture. 

The  air  passages  are  lined  with  mucous  membrane  and  this 
membrane  is  the  seat  of  several  diseases.  Diseases  are  easily 
transferred  from  one  part  of  the  respiratory  system  to  another, 
since  the  passages  and  also  the  lining  membranes  are  contin- 
uous from  the  nostrils  to  the  air  sacs.  There  are  also  diseases 
of  the  vascular  part  of  the  lungs.  Some  of  these  diseases  are 
caused  by  unfavorable  conditions  as  exposure  to  cold,  draughts 
of  air,  or  moist  air  or  to  improper  food.  Others  are  due  to 
specific  organisms.  Most  of  the  latter  are  contagious.  Expo- 
sure to  unfavorable  conditions  also  reduces  the  ability  of  the 
birds  to  resist  infectious  diseases. 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TUKATMEXT. 


87 


B 


Catarrh. — (Simple  Catarrh;  Non-coiitagioiis  Catarrh;  Cold.) 
One  of  the  most  common 
diseases  of  the  air  i)a?sages 
is  catarrh  (cold).  It  is 
often  hard  to  distinguish 
this  disease  from  early 
stages  of  roup  and  diph- 
theria. The  characteristic 
symptoms  of  the  latter  dis- 
ease should  be  carefully 
looked  for,  lest  the  flock 
become  infected  with  a  dan- 
gerous contagious  disease. 
In  cases  where  there  is  a 
suspicion  of  either  of  these 
diseases  it  is  better  to  iso- 
late the  sick  l)irds.  Catarrh 
is  non-contagious.  It  usu- 
ally affects  only  a  few  indi- 
viduals in  the  flock,  but  in 
cases  of  exposure  of  the 
flock  to  the  unfavorable 
conditions  which  cause  the 
disease  it  may  occur  in 
quite  a  number  of  birds  at 


Fig.  14.  A — Lobule  of  the  lung  of 
a  bird  represented  in  ideal  longi- 
tudinal section ;  a,  a,  secondary 
bronchi :  b,  b.  tertiary  bronchi. 
B. — Plexus  of  blood  vessels  which 
chiefly  compose  the  pulmonary 
tissue.     (After  Owen). 


the  same  time. 

D{ag)iosis.  .Salmon  gives  the  following  description  of  the 
symptoms  of  this  disease:  '"In  simple,  non-contagious  catarrh, 
the  affected  birds  are  more  or  less  dull,  they  are  disinclined  to 
move,  their  appetites  are  diminishetl.  they  .sneeze  and  the  mucous 
membrane  is  thickened,  causing  some  ob.struction  to  breathing 
through  the  nostrils.  There  soon  appears  a  thin,  water  dis- 
charge which  later  becomes  thicker  and  glutinous,  the  eyes  are 
often  watery,  the  eyelids  swollen  and  sometimes  held  together 
by  a  thick,  viscid  secretion.  In  very  severe  cases,  the  birds  are 
somnolent,  the  plumage  is  erect  and  roughened,  the  nostrils  are 
completely  obstructed  by  the  thick  secretion,  the  breathing  is 
entirely  through  the  mouth  and  is  accompanied  by  a  wheezing 
or  snoring  sound,  the  appetite  is  entirely  lost,  a  thin  liquid  es- 
capes from  the  mouth  and  the  bird  .soon  becomes  exhausted  and 
dies." 


88  rori.TKv  diseasks  and  tukik  treatmkxt. 

Etiology.  Tlic  cause  of  catarrli  i>  exposure  to  cold,  to 
draughts  of  aii".  ti>  daiii])  atmosphere  (hie  to  improper  housing 
concHtions.  or  to  wet  weather.  Weak  stock  or  improperly  nour- 
ished birds  are  iiion,'  likely  to  he  affected  1)\-  these  conditions 
than  strong,  vigorous  and  well  fed  individuals. 

Treatment.  With  strong,  healthy  stock  it  is  usually  only  nec- 
essary to  remove  the  cause.  It  is  a  good  practice,  however,  to 
give  red  pei>per  U"a])>icnni  i  witli  the  foofl.  Salmon  gives  the 
lornnila  and  dose  of  a  tonic  recommended  In'  .Megnin. 

"Gentian    root    4  drams 

Ginger   4  drams 

Sulphate  of  iron   2  drams 

Hyposulphite  of  sodium i  dram 

Salicylate  of  sodium i   dram 

These  substances  are  to  be  pulverized  and  then  thoroughly 
mixed.  The  dose  is  3  to  4  grains  a  day  for  a  medium-sized  fowd. 
Its  effects  are  stimulating  and  tonic." 

In  severe  cases,  the  eyes,  mouth,  and  nostrils  may  be  washed 
once  or  twice  a  da\-  with  (jne  of  the  following  solutions  wdiich 
are  given  in  order  of  preference: 

1.  Boracic  acid  3  per  cent  .solution. 

2.  Creolin  i  per  cent  solution. 

3.  Hydrogen  dioxide  mixed  with  equal  parts  of  w^ater. 

4.  Carbolic  acid,  2  per  cent  solution. 

Prognosis.  A  great  majority  of  the  birds  recover  in  a  few 
days  if  the  cause  is  immediately  removed.  If  the  cause  con- 
tinues to  act  they  may  become  worse  and  die,  or  the  disease 
may  become  ciu'onic  and  persist  for  a  long  time. 

Bronchitis,  Croup. 

This  disease  may  follow  catarrh  as  a  direct  extension  of  the 
inflammatory  processes  in  the  membrane  of  the  nasal  cavities 
and  throat  to  the  mucous  membrane  of  bronchial  tubes. 

Diagnosis.  The  symptoms  of  bronchitis  are  the  symptoms  of 
a  hard  cold  (severe  catarrh)  with  rapid  breathing  and  cough. 
It  may  be  distinguished  from  a  cold  by  the  peculiar  sounds  made 
in  breathing.  In  the  early  stages  of  the  disease  this  is  a  whist- 
ling sotmd  made  l)y  tlie  passage  of  the  air  over  the  dry,  thickened 
uKinbrane.  As  the  disease  advances  nmcus  collects  in  the  tubes 
and  the  breathing  is  accompanied  l)y  a  rattling  or  bubbling  sound. 
Under  favorable  conditions  the  symptoms  do  not  usually  pass 


POULTRY    DISKASKS    AND    TIIKIK     T  KM- AT  M  I' XT.  89 

beyond  this  stage  but  soon  disappear.  In  very  severe  cases  the 
birds  become  very  sleepy  and  refuse  to  eat.  The  wings  droop. 
The  feathers  are  roughened  and  breathing  becomes  more  and 
more  difficult,  until  linally  the  bird  die>.  The  less  severe  forms 
of  the  disea!-"e  may  become  chronic  while  tlic  symptoms  of  rat- 
tling breath  and  coughing  ui)  mucus  may  persist  for  a  long  time. 
In  this  form  of  the  disease  the  birds  appear  well  except  for  the 
above  symptoms. 

Etiology.  AA'hen  it  follows  a  hard  cold,  bronchitis  may  be 
caused  by  an  extension  of  the  inflammation  of  the  mucosa  of 
the  throat  to  the  mucosa  of  the  bronchial  tubes.  It  may  also  be 
caused  directly  by  exposure  to  cold,  draughts,  and  dampness; 
or  it  mav  result  from  irritation  of  the  mucous  membrane  caused 
by  inhaling  irritating  vapors,  dust  or  foreign  particles. 

TrcaiiJiciit.  Place  the  patient  in  a  warm,  dry.  well  ventilated 
but  not  draughty  rooms.  Feed  bread  or  middlings  moistened 
with  milk,  and  add  to  this  food  2  grains  of  black  antimony 
twice  a  day.  A  demulcent  drink  is  often  beneficial.  A 
very  good  one  is  made  by  steeping  a  little  flax  seed  in  water. 
Other  demulcent  drinks  are  made  by  dissolving  honey  or  gum 
arabic  in  water.  This  treatment  is  sufficient  for  mild  cases. 
Salmon  recommends  the  following  treatment  for  severe  attacks : 
"If  the  attack  promises  to  be  severe,  it  may  sometimes  be 
checked  in  the  early  stages  by  giving  10  drops  of  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine in  a  teaspoonful  of  castor  oil  and  repeating  this  dose 
after  5  or  6  hours.  It  should  not  be  continued  after  there  are 
signs  of  purging,  for  fear  of  exhausting  the  strength  of  the 
patient.  In  the  very  acute  cases,  where  the  whistling  or  snor- 
ing sounds  with  the  respiration  indicate  a  croupous  form  of 
inflammation,  and  where  the  gasping  shows  great  obstruction 
of  the  air  passage,  relief  may  be  obtained  by  giving  from  3  to 
6  drops  of  either  the  syrup  or  the  wine  of  ipecac." 

"Medicines  should  be  administered  very  carefully  in  diseases 
affecting  the  trachea  and  bronchi,  as  otherwise  they  mav  enter 
the  air  passages  and  increase  the  irritation." 

Prognosis.  In  the  ordinary  and  chronic  forms  the  birds  usu- 
ally recover.  In  the  more  severe  forms  a  large  per  cent  of  the 
affected  birds  die. 

Influenza   (Epizootic,  Grippe,  Distemper). 
This  disease  is  mentioned  by  Woods  as  "a  contagious  germ 


90  rOL'LTRV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIR    TKEATMENT. 

disease  closely  association  with  rouji."  Robinson  gives  a  brief 
statement  of  the  diagnosis,  treatment  and  prognosis  of  this  dis- 
ease as  follows:  "I'riefly  stated,  the  symptoms  are  of  a  sud- 
den and  severe  cold,  with  high  fever,  generally  diarrhea,  and 
extreme  (k'l)iHty.  In  very  severe  cases  death  may  ensue  with- 
in a  few  hours  after  the  fowl  is  observed  to  be  sick.  Usually 
the  bad  cases  linger  for  a  day  or  two,  while  those  that  recover 
run  for  a  week  or  lo  days.  Treatment  the  same  as  for  bad 
colds." 

Quite  possibly  this  is  not  a  separate  disease  but  is  either  a 
severe  form  of  cold  occurring  in  many  individuals  of  a  flock 
which  has  been  exposed  to  unfavorable,  insanitary  conditions, 
or  is  a  mild  form   of   roup. 

Roup  (Contagions  Catarrh,  Diphtheria,  Diphtheritic  Roup, 

Canker). 

V^eterinarians  have  distinguished  two  diseases  belonging  to 
this  general  class  of  troubles  as  follows:  (a)  roup  or  contagious 
catarrh  ^\llcn  onl}-  catarrhal  symptoms  are  present,  and  (b) 
di])htheria.  diphtheritic  roup  and  canker  when  diphtherial 
patches  and  false  membranes  are  formed.  The  bacteriologists 
Moore.  Harrison  and  Streit.  consider  these  different  stages  of 
the  same  disease.  Cary  not  only  considers  these  as  one  disease 
but  also  believes  that  sorehead,  chicken  pox  or  epithelioma  con- 
tagiosum  is  also  a  form  of  this  disease.  These  questions  cannot 
be  settled  with  the  present  knowledge  of  the  causes  of  these 
diseases.  The  evidence  for  considering  roup  and  diphtheria 
as  successive  stages  in  the  same  disease  seem  much  better  than 
the  evidence  that  sore-head  is  a  form  of  this  disease.  In  the 
present  work  sore-head  is  treated  separately. 

Roup  is  a  disease  of  very  great  economic  importance.  It  is 
widely  distributed  causing  a  large  annual  death  rate,  and  also 
reducing  the  value  and  production  of  affected  flocks  since  many 
birds  contract  the  disease  in  a  chronic  form  and  become  worth- 
less for  egg  production  or  breeding.  Such  birds  preserve  the 
germs  of  the  disease  and  this  leads  to  fresh  outbreaks  when- 
ever the  flock  is  exposed  to  unfavorable  conditions. 

Diagnosis.     Harrison  and  Streit*  give  a  very  good  descrip- 


*Harrison.    F.    C.    and    Streit.    H..    Roup.      Ont.    Agr.    Coll.     &   Exp':. 
Farm.     Bulletin   125,  Dec.   1902,  pp.   1-16. 


POULTRY  nisi:.\si:s  and  tiii:ir   iki-atment. 


91 


tion  ol   the  s\nii>l(ini>  of  nuip   fn>iii  early  to  late  stages.     The 
following  account  is  ([uotcd    t'roni  their   hulklin  : 

"The  general  condition  of  roupy  birds  varies  very  nnich.  Af- 
ter the  first  svmptonis  of  the  disease,  which  is  usually  a  putrid 
catarrh  from  the  nostrils,  the  affected  fowl  is  generally  restless, 
separates  from  other  niemhers  of  the  tlock,  becomes  dull,  cow- 
ers in  the  corner  of  the  coop  or  mopes  in  the  corner  of  the  pen, 
with  its  head  drawn  close  to  its  body  and  often  covered  with  its 


wmgs. 


"Tf  there  is  a  severe  discharge  from  the  nostrils  or  eyes, 
then  the  feathers  upon  the  wings  or  back  are  likely  to  be  smeared 
with  it.  -tuck  together,  and  after  some  time  fall  out;  and  the 
eyes  often  shut,  the  lids  being  glued  together  b\-  the  sticky  dis- 
charge from  them." 

"A  fowl  in  a  sleepy  condition,  or  moping  as  described,  fre- 
C|uentl\-  arouses  itself  for  a  time,  takes  food,  and  especially 
water,  and  then  gradually   returns  to  the  apathetic  condition." 


Fig.    15.     Sliowing   ajjpearance   of   a    hen   a   day    before   ck'ath 
from   roup,      i  I'rdni    Harrison    and   Streit). 

'■-Main-  fowls  ha\ing  the  disease  in  a  chronic  form  keep  their 
normal  appetite  for  a  long  time,  and  seem  very  little  disturbed 
physically,  whilst  others,  especiall\-  when  the  face  or  eyes  be- 
come swollen,  lose  their  appetite,  grow  thinner  and  thinner,  and 
fmally  become  too  weak  to  stand  or  walk  around,  when  they  lie 
down  rmd  die  in  a  few  days.  During  the  last  stage  diarrhoea, 
with  offensive  yellow  or  green  discharge,  often  sets  in  and  caus- 
es death  in  a  short  time." 


92 


I'uri.TKV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT. 


".Main  |i<iultr\  ktcpcrs  assert  that  roujiy  l)inls  show  fever; 
ami  it  is  eertain  that  the  luad  is  often  very  hot.  hut  tlie  IxxJy 
teiiii'«.ratiire  is  iioniial,  or  only  very  slightly  higher  than  normal." 

"Special  Svinplnms  of  Koiip.  I'.y  the  term  ronp  we  generally 
understand  a  more  or  less  pntrid  discharge  from  the  nostrils, 
which  lasts  lor  weeks  or  even  months.  The  disease  often  fol- 
lows a  common  cold,  to  which  fowls,  especially  yonng  fowls  and 
those  of  the  more  delicate  hreeds.  are  much  predisposed." 

"In  the  first  stages  of  roup,  the  1)ir(ls  often  cough  or  sneeze, 
and  tile  breathing  is  noisy,  caused  by  the  i)artial  closing  of 
the  air  passages,  which  become  blocked  with  the  discharge  from 
the  nostrils.  When  the  air  passages  are  entirely  closed  by  the 
discharged  products,  the  fowl  has  to  open  its  beak  in  order  to 
breathe." 

"Sometimes  a  yellowish  cheese-like  mass  forms  in  the  nos- 
trils, growing  quickly  and  pressing  the  upper  walls  of  the  nose 
upwards;  and  if  this  mass  is  removed,  an  uneven  bleeding  sur- 
face is  left,  which  forms  a  new  cheesy  mass  in  from  24  to  48 
hours." 


Fig.   i5.     .Slidwiiig  swelling  nf  head  in  severe 
roup.      I  From    Harrison    and    Slreit). 

"Whilst  manv  roui)y  birds  show  only  the  above  mentioned 
symptoms,  others  become  more  seriously  diseased.  The  face 
of   roupy  birds   is   very   often    swollen,   especially  between  the 


POUI.TRY   DISEASES    AND    TIIKIR    TREATMENT. 


93 


eyes  and  the  nostrils ;  and  this  swelHng,  which  is  hot  and  sore, 
sometimes  grows  into  a  tumor  as  large  as  a  walnut — generally 
firm  and  hard.  (Sec  hg.  i6).  A  bird  in  this  condition  is 
frequently  found  scratching  at  the  tiim<n-  witli  its  claws  or 
wings,  as  if  endeavoring  to  remove  it.  1  f  the  tumor  grows  on 
the  inner  side,  towards  the  nasal  passage,  it  forces  the  roof  of 
the  mouth  downward,  and  tlie  uj^per  and  lower  beak  are  slowly 
pressed  out  of  tlicir  nornird  positidu.  so  that  tlie  l)ird  cannot 
close  its  mouth.'' 


:'^-- 


'^a^siisy^' 


rCf^ 


.m 


^^ 


A' 


Fig.  17.  Head  of  a  bird.  The  lower  figure 
shows  the  maxillo-ocular  sinus,  which  opens 
into  the  socket  of  the  eye  and  communi- 
cates with  the  nasal  cavities.  The  upper 
figure  shows  the  roup  tumor  on  the  head 
caused  by  the  filling  of  this  cavity  with 
cheesy  pus.     (From    Megnin). 

"On  making  an  incision  into  the  tumor,  we  find  a  solid,  cheesy, 
yellowish  matter,  which  may  be  pulled  out  like  the  root  of  a 
plant;  but  it  usually  has  to  be  broken  into  small  pieces  in  order 
to  get  it  out.  Around  this  mass,  there  is  a  more  or  less  smooth, 
grey  or  brownish  membrane  that  is  capable  of  again  forming  a 
cheesy  mass  similar  to  what  has  been  removed." 

"The  mass  itself,  when  not  attended  to,  often  grows  into  the 
nasal  canals,  and  blocks  them  up  completely.     Cenerally  com- 


94  POULTRY    DISUASES    AND    TTII'IR    TRK  A  TM  l-.N  T. 

l>iiic(l  with  the  formation  ui  the  tumor  on  the  lace,  there  is  an 
affection  of  tlie  eyes;  or  the  eyes  become  (Hseased  without  the 
preliminary  (Hscharge  from  the  nose,  in  which  case  poultry  keep- 
ers speak  of  fowls  as  suffering  from  "roup  of  the  eyes." 

"Roup  of  the  liycs.  The  first  symptom  of  the  eyes  is  gener- 
ally an  inflammation  of  the  eye-lids.  These  become  red,  swollen 
and  hot;  then  the  mucous  membrane  and  glands  of  eyes  become 
inflamed  and  begin  to  secrete  a  liquid — at  first  clear,  and  then  of 
a  grey,  slimy,  putrid  character,  which  dries  on  the  feathers  at  the 
side  of  the  head,  causing  them  to  stick  together  or  fall  out.  If 
the  secretion  is  retained  in  the  eye  socket,  it  undergoes  a  change, 
becoming  a  yellowish,  solid,  cheesy  mass  of  the  same  appearance 
as  that  found  in  the  nasal  tumor.  This  cheesy  mass  either 
forces  the  eye  out  of  its  socket,  or  the  inflammation  entirely 
destroys  it.  These  cheese-like  masses  form  in  one  or  two 
days,  and  may  reappear  after  many  daily  removals." 

"All  these  affections,  described  above,  may  be  localized  on 
one  side;  but  often  both  nasal  passages  anrl  both  eyes  are  affected 
at  the  same  time." 

■"Combined  w^ith  the  symptoms  of  roup  above  described,  there 
often  are  patches  of  a  greyish  yellow  exudation  firmly  adherent 
tc  the  mouth,  throat,  etc.  These  patches  are  called  "false  mem- 
branes," and  on  account  of  their  somewhat  close  resemblance  to 
the  membrane  which  is  formed  in  human  diphtheria,  it  has 
been  thought  by  some  writers  that  the  avian  and  human  dis- 
eases are  the  same.  Here,  however,  let  it  suf^ce  to  say  that  the 
weight  of  evidence  is  against  this  contention." 


poui/nn'   nisi'ASKs  and  tiii-.ir  treatment. 


95 


Fig.  i8.  Head  of  a  fowl  22  days  after  in- 
oculation with  a  culture  of  the  roup 
baciUus.  A. — False  membrane.  (From 
Harrison  and  Streit). 


Fig.     19.     Throat    and  bottom    of    mouth 

with    false   membrane  (»/)     14    days   after 

inoculation.     (From  Harrison    and 

Streit). 


90 


pori.Tin    I)im:.\si:s  and  tiii:iu   iKr.ATMKXT. 


Fig.  20.  A  section  of  a  false  mcr.il)rane  of  a  roupy  fowl,  (a) — false 
membrane;  (b),  cpitbeliuni:  (c),  sub  mucosa.  (From  Harrison  and 
Streit). 


A.- 
B- 


^*^ 

•:-.,.^ 


il^ 


Fig.  21.  Head  of  a  bird  witb  diytheritic  roup  affecting  the 
mouth  and  tongue.  A.  B,  C  and  D. — False  membranes. 
(From   Mcgnin). 

"We  may  al.so  point  out  that  many  poultry  kceper.s  who  notice 
the   false  nicm])ranr  on   the   tliroat  and   mouth  of  their   fowls, 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  97 

regard  the  disease  as  quite  different  from  the  catarrhal  form, 
and  call  it  "canker."  which  is  probably  a  popular  form  of  the 
word  "cancer." 

"Whether  the  disease  is  characterized  by  false  membranes, 
offensive  discharges,  or  cheesy  masses,  the  cause  is  the  same,  as 
we  have  many  times  experimentally  demonstrated." 

"At  one  or  several  places  in  the  mouth  or  throat,  these  yellow- 
ish, smooth  or  uneven  membranes  appear,  and  either  remain 
small  and  disappear  after  a  few  days  or  grow  thicker,  spread, 
and  become  firmly  attached  to  the  mucous  membrane;  and  if 
they  (the  false  membranes)  are  removed,  an  uneven,  bleeding 
surface  is  exposed,  which  looks  like  a  true  cancer." 

"After  the  appearance  of  the  membranes  the  adjacent  sub- 
mucous tissue  sometimes  becomes  inflamed,  and  finally  the 
growths  are  found  to  be  similar  to  those  so  often  seen  at  the  side 
of  the  face — containing  solid  cheesy  matter  in  the  center." 

"V\'hen  the  throat  is  blocked  by  these  false  membranes,  the 
animal's  breathing  becomes  abnormal,  and  the  air  passing 
through  tlie  throat  produces  loud  noises.  Gradually,  the  visible 
mucous  membrane  and  the  con.il)  turn  blue,  and  the  fowl  finally 
dies  from  suffocation." 

"The  Course  of  the  Disease.  The  course  of  roup  is  usually 
of  long  duration.  A  simple,  putrid  discharge  from  the  nose 
may  stop  in  3  or  4  weeks,  and  similarly  false  membranes  may 
soon  disappear;  but  generally  the  symptoms  last  for  months. 
When  the  eyelids  become  swollen  and  tumors  appear,  the  case 
i.-  usually  chronic.  Affected  birds  may  be  better  for  a  few  days 
or  weeks,  and  then  become  very  weak  again.  Damp,  colu 
weather  usually  intensifies  the  disease. 

"It  is  well  known  that  fowls  may  be  more  or  less  sick  from 
roup  for  one  or  even  several  years  and  these  birds  should  have  the 
greatest  care  and  attention,  for  they  are  generally  the  cause  of 
new  outbreaks.  Once  introduced,  roup  may  remain  in  a  flock 
for  many  years.  The  first  cold  and  moist  nights  of  the  fall 
and  early  winter  cause  all  kinds  of  catarrhs,  which  in  many 
instances  are  followed  by  roup.  Roup  spreads  rapidly  in  the 
winter  time  and  may  attack  from  10  to  90  per  cent  of  the  fowls 
in  a  Hock.  Towards  spring,  the  disease  gradually  disappears ; 
during  the  summer  months,  a  few  birds  remain  chronically 
affected ;  and  then  the  first  cold  nights  give  the  disease  a  fresh 
start." 


98  Pori.TKV    DISKASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

■■\'()Uii,i;'  fowls  aii<l  f()\\]'-  of  the  liiK"  Ijreeds  are  especially  liable 
to  roup.  W  hilo  sonic  poulUymcn  maintain  that  birds  once  hav- 
ing suffered  from  r(~)U])  ne\'cr  take  the  disease  again,  most  of  the 
experimental  evidence  tentl>  to  .show  that  no  acquired  immunity 
exists,  as  sometimes  hai)pens  after  other  diseases.  vSome  fowls 
are.  however,  naturally  immune,  and  never  take  the  disease. 
In  the  course  of  our  own  experiments,  a  white  chicken  which 
iiad  never  had  roup,  was  innculated  with  repeated  and  large 
doses  of  the  roup  germ,  but  without  effect." 

Etiology.  Several  organisms  have  been  isolated  from  the 
lesions  of  birds  suffering  from  roup.  Four  of  these  have  some 
claim  to  be  considered  the  cause  of  the  disease.  These  include 
3  species  of  bacteria  and  one  protozoan.  There  is  also  some 
evidence  that  the  cause  of  the  disease  is  an  invisible  virus.  While 
the  specific  organism  or  organisms  which  cause  the  disease  are 
not  certainly  known  its  infectious  nature  is  well  established.  It  is 
probably  carried  from  one  individual  to  another  in  a  flock,  by  the 
particles  of  dried  secretion  in  the  air  or  possiblv  1)\'  the  food  and 
drink  contaminated  b\-  the  diseased  birds.  It  may  be  introduced 
into  a  flock  1)\-  tlie  bringing  in  of  birds  from  an  infected  flock, 
or  by  birds  that  have  contracted  the  disease  at  shows.  Possibly 
it  is  sometimes  carried  on  the  shoes  or  clothing  of  persons  com- 
ing from  infected  }ards  or  houses.  While  a  .source  of  infection 
i;;  necessary  for  the  production  of  the  disease  it  does  not  appear 
to  attack  birds  when  the  mucous  membrane  is  in  a  healthy  con- 
dition. It  is  most  apt  to  attack  birds  that  are  suffering  with 
catarrli.  When  a  Hock  once  becomes  infected  the  l)irds  which 
develop  a  mild  chronic  form  of  the  disease  serve  as  sources  of 
infection  whenever  exposure  to  cold  and  dampness  causes  ca- 
tarrh in  the  unaft"ected  birds.  Tims  in  infected  flocks  an  out- 
break of  roup  usually  follows  catarrh  caused  by  exposure  and 
this  fact  has  lerl  s(^me  poultrymcn  to  think  that  the  disease  may 
be  caused  directly  ])y  exposure.  In  some  flocks  it  a])])ears  annu- 
ally with  the  cold  damp  weather  of  late  autumn  and  breaks  out 
again  at  every  radical  change  of  temperature  and  moisture  con- 
ditions throughout  the  winter.  Vigorous  and  jiroperly  nour- 
ished liirds  are  better  able  to  resist  catarrh  and  consequently 
roup  than  those  that  arc  delicate  and  improperl)-  fed. 

TrcalDh'iit.  The  best  treatment  is  prevention.  The  disease 
can  be  prevented  by  stopping  all  sources  of  infection.  Some 
things  to  kee]")  in  mind  are : 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    Til  KIR    TREATMENT.  99 

1.  Ill  introducing  new  birds  always  procure  them  from  unin- 
fected ilocks. 

2.  Isolate  all  new  birds  and  all  birds  that  have  been  exhibited 
at  shows  for  2  or  3  weeks  to  make  sure  that  they  do  not  develo]) 
the  disease. 

3.  E.xclude  from  uninfected  house  and  yards  poultry  and 
all  other  animals,  including  men,  coming  from  those  that  are 
infected. 

4.  Do  not  use  implements  as  hoes,  shovels,  etc..  tliat  have 
been  used  on  infected  premises. 

5.  Keep  the  birds  in  a  good  hygienic  condition,  well  nour- 
ished and  in  dry  well  ventilated  houses  and  roomy  yards. 

\Mien  the  disease  has  been  introduced  into  the  tlock  careful 
precaution  may  prevent  its  spread. 

T.  Immediately  separate  from  the  flock  any  bird  that  shows 
symptoms  of  the  disease. 

2.  Disinfect  the  yards  and  houses.  A  5  per  cent  solution  of 
carbolic  acid  may  be  used  on  the  yards.  Remove  the  litter  from 
the  houses  and  disinfect  freely.  This  5  per  cent  carbolic  solu- 
tion may  also  be  followed  by  whitewash,  or  better  use  the  cre- 
sol  solution  described  in  Chap.  II. 

3.  Use  potassium  permanganate  in  all  drinking  water.  (See 
Chap.  II.) 

4.  Keej)  watch  of  the  flock  so  that  any  new  cases  may  be 
isolated  at  once. 

5.  Burn  or  bury  deep  all  birds  that  die. 

The  disease  is  amenable  to  treatment  but  this  treatment  must 
be  individual  and  requires  a  great  deal  of  time.  It  mu-t  be  con- 
tinued once  or  twice  a  day  for  quite  a  long  time.  It  is.  there- 
fore, very  expensive  and  consequently  impracticable  for  ordinary 
stock.  Moreover  birds  apparently  cured  are  likely  to  become  the 
source  of  infection  for  later  outbreaks. 

Robinson  well  says :  "I  have  cured  many  ver\-  bad  cases,  but 
quit  treating  them  years  ago,  because  I  found  that  as  long  as  I 
cured  roup  I  had  more  roup  to  cure."  No  better  advice  than 
is  implied  in  this  could  be  given.  If  the  stock  is  only  of  ordi- 
nary value  it  is  better  to  kill  all  birds  that  develop  the  disease. 
If  the  flock  is  badly  infected  and  the  disease  appears  again  and 
again  when  conditions  favor  its  development,  it  is  better  to  dis- 
pose of  the  flock  and  disinfect  thoroughly,  using  new  nms  when 


lOO  rOULTRV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT. 

starting  as^^ain.     New   stock  may  be  obtained   from   uninfected 
flocks  or  from  incubator  chickens  raised  on  a  fresh  range. 

In  tlu'  case  of  vahiable  show  l)irds  treatment  may  perhaps 
be  advisable. 

Harris(^n  and  Strcit  ,<?ivc  the  following  methods  of  treating 
roup : 

"The  germs  of  roup  arc  not  very  resistant ;  they  can  easily 
bt  destroyed  when  present  in  cultures,  or  somewhere  outside 
the  animal ;  but  in  the  animal  tissue,  they  are  very  difficult  to 
kill,  because  they  penetrate  into  the  tissue;  and  unless  this  too 
is  killed,  the  germs  continue  living  for  a  long  time."' 

"Roup  may  be  ciu-ed  by  remedies,  if  the  treatment  is  careful 
and  judicious.  Obstinately  reappearing  false  membranes  can  be 
successfully  treated  by  burning  the  diseased  tissue  with  a  strong 
acid  (hydrochloric  acid  50  per  cent  to  75  per  cent)  or  other 
caustic,  such  as  silver  nitrate.  If  the  eyes  and  nose  are  attacked, 
they  have  to  be  carefully  washed,  at  least  twice  a  day.  with  an 
antiseptic  solution,  such  as  2  per  cent  boracic  acid  in  a  decoction 
of  chamomile  flowers,  or  y^  per  cent  solution  of  corrosive  sub- 
limate. Thus  the  micro-organisms  are  killed  or  at  least,  the 
diseased  products  which  are  discharged  are  removed,  and  the 
irritation  caused  by  them;  also  the  transformation  into  large 
cheesy  masses  is  prevented." 

"We  had  chickens  badly  affected  with  roup  of  the  eyes,  which 
were  cured  with  boracic  acid  and  chamomile.  On  accoimt  of 
the  smallness  of  the  nostrils  and  nasal  canals,  it  is  very  difficult 
to  get  the  antiseptic  .solutions  into  the  nose  and  nasal  cavities; 
but  it  can  be  done  with  a  small  syringe.  If  this  treatment  is 
too  troublesome,  then  the  nostrils,  at  least,  should  be  washed 
and  opened  several  times  a  day,  to  allow  the  secretions  to  pass 
away.  We  have  treated  chickens  for  14  days  by  daily  washing 
with  a  2^/2  per  cent  solution  of  creolin  and  glycerine.  After  the 
washings,  small  plugs  of  cotton  wool,  filled  with  mixture,  were 
placed  in  the  nostrils  and  lachrymal  ducts.  This  remedy  did  not 
cure  the  nnij).  although  the  same  mixture  readily  kills  the  roup 
bacillus  in  cultures  in  from  2  to  3  minutes.  The  greatest  hind- 
rance to  a  sure  cure  by  remedies  which  have  been  used  locally, 
is  the  ability  of  the  germ  to  penetrate  into  the  tissue  and  the 
many  secondary  cavities  of  the  nostrils  which  cannot  be  reached 
by  the  antiseptic." 

"Another  method  of  treatment  which  gives  excellent  results. 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THEIR   Tk'-AlM'iN'':.  'Ol'' 

especially  in  the  early  stages  of  roup,  is  the  use  of  i  to  2  per 
cent  of  permanganate  of  potash.  Fowls  are  treated  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner:  The  nostrils  are  pressed  together  between 
thumb  and  forefinger  in  the  direction  of  the  beak  two  or  three 
times.  Pressure  should  also  be  applied  between  nostrils  and 
eyes  in  an  upward  direction.  This  massage  helps  to  loosen  the 
discharge  in  the  nostrils  and  eyes.  The  bird's  head  is  then 
plunged  into  the  solution  of  permanganate  of  potash  for  20  or 
30  seconds,  in  fact  the  head  may  be  kept  under  the  solution  as 
long  as  the  bird  can  tolerate  it.  The  solution  is  thus  distributed 
through  the  nostrils  and  other  canals  and  has  an  astringent  and 
slight  disinfecting  action.  This  treatment  should  be  given  twice 
a  day  and  continued  until  all  symptoms  have  disappeared." 

'Tf  there  are  solid  tumors  in  the  eyelids,  they  should  be 
opened  so  that  the  skin  may  bleed  freely.  The  cheesy  matter 
should  be  removed  and  the  surrounding  membrane  touched  with 
a  5  per  cent  carbolic  acid  or  silver  nitrate  solution,  and  then 
a  cotton  plug  put  in  again  to  prevent  the  cavity  from  healing  too 
quickly.  We  have  cured  chickens  in  this  way  in  about  a  fort- 
night." 

"As  all  these  methods  of  treatment  demand  a  good  deal  of  time 
and  care,  they  cannot  well  be  used  for  whole  flocks,  but  the  more 
valuable  fowls  may  be  treated  in  this  manner.  Farmers  and 
poultry  men  should  first  try  the  permanganate  of  potash  method 
of  treatment  as  it  is  the  easiest  to  employ." 

"Food  remedies  influence  roup  only  by  strengthening  the  fowls 
and  assisting  nature  to  throw  ofif  or  conquer  the  disease." 

Sanborn  (Reliable  Poultry  Remedies)  recommends  the  use  of 
an  atomizer  to  apply  the  disinfecting  solutions  to  the  nasal  pas- 
sages and  mouth. 

He  recommends  the  following  solution  for  a  spray  for  all  the 
mucous  surfaces : 

Extract  of  witch  hazel,  4  tablespoons, 
Liquid  carbolic  acid,  3  drops, 
Water,  2  tablespoons. 
He  applies  the  spray  twice  a  day  squeezing  the  bulb  5  times  for 
each  nostril  and  twice  for  the  mouth. 

Salmon  recommends  washing  the  cavities  of  the  nose  and 
throat  with  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  diluted  i  to  3  times  with 
water. 


102  POL'I.TRY    DISKASES    AND    T I  IK  IK    TKKATMKNT. 

Tin.'  l)ii(ls  which  ;irc  hcing  treated  should  he  kept  in  a  (hy. 
warm,  well  ventilated  ronni  with  good  nourishing  food.  The 
drinking  water  should   lie    frequently  changed. 

Prognosis.  In  infected  flocks  this  disease  caused  a  direct  an- 
nual loss  of  lo  to  15  per  cent  of  the  flock.  Also  many  hirds 
contract  a  clironic  form  of  the  disease  wliirli  affects  them  for 
nioiitli^  or  years.  Careful  indiviihial  treatment  will  save  the 
lives  of  many  l)irds.  l)ut  such  treatiuent  is  economically  inadvis- 
ahle  except  in  case  of  A'cry  xaluahle  l)irds. 

"Pip"  ( Inflanniiation  of  the  Month). 

l\.t)binson  describes  "pilJ  "  as  follows:  '"  "I'il'  is  a  term  in  very 
common  use  among  poultry  keepers,  and  applied  chiefly  to  a 
symptom  occurring  in  many  cases  of  cold  or  fever  when  the  nos- 
trils lieing  obstructed  and  the  fowls  l)reathing  through  the  mouth 
the  skin  of  the  mouth  and  tongue  become  hard  and  dry,  and 
a  bony  tip  may  form  on  the  tongue  by  the  hardening  and  drying 
of  the  skin  of  that  menil)er,  this  condition  being  aggravated 
when  catarrhal  discharges  adhere  to  the  skin  and  dry  and  accu- 
mulate." 

Etiology.  It  would  apjK'ar  to  be  the  case  that  the  symptoms 
above  described  originated  from  different  causes  in  dilterent 
cases.  The  trouble  may  lie  due  to  specific  infection,  though  a 
particular  organism  has  not  yet  Ijcen  definitely  isolated  as  the 
cause.  In  some  cases  the  symptom  is  apparently  purely  physi- 
ological, arising  from  a  failure  of  tlie  mucus-secreting  glands  to 
function  properly,  owing  to  a  lowered  physiological  condition. 

Treatment.  The  essential  points  in  the  treatment  of  this  dis- 
eased condition  is  first  to  treat  the  ])rimary  cause  (cold,  catarrh, 
etc.).  In  removing  the  scale  or  ''pip'  gentle  mcastires  are  to 
be  followed,  otherwise  a  raw  surface  likeh-  to  ulcerate,  will  be 
left. 

The  following  advice  as  to  treatment,  given  by  Salmon,  is 
excellent. 

"In  case  of  simply  drying  of  tlie  nioutli,  it  is  sufficient  to 
moisten  the  tongue  with  a  few  drops  of  a  mixture  of  equal 
parts  of  glycerine  and  water.  In  case  tlierc  is  redness  of  the 
membrane,  or  if  the  e])ithelium  is  l)eginning  to  separate,  or  if 
a  deposit  has  formed,  add  20  grains  of  chlorate  of  potash  to 
each  ounce  of  this  mixture.  An  excellent  remedv  for  such  cases 
is  made  by  dissolving   15  grains  of  boric  acid  in  an  ounce  of 


POUI/rRV    DISKASKS    AND    TllKIK    TKKAT.M  KNT.  IO3 

water.  T-otli  of  those  solutions  are  harmless  and  may  be  freely 
and  frec|uently  applied.  W  hen  the  ei)ithelium  is  separating,  it 
should  he  kept  moistened  with  the  glycerine  mixture  and  its 
detachnuiU  may  be  somewhat  facilitated  ])y  loosening  it  with  a 
pin  or  the  point  of  a  i)enknife.  hut  great  care  should  be  exercised, 
the  sensitive  tissues  shoidd  not  he  touche(l  and  ud  blood  should 
be  drawn."' 

Pro(/iiosis.  Tn  and  of  itself  "pip"  is  not  a  serious  matter.  It 
is,  however,  usually  associated  with  other  disorders  of  the  res- 
piratory system,  which  may  be  very  serious.  Regarding  this 
matter  Salmon  says:  "The  exaggerated  idea  prevalent  as  to  the 
dangerotis  character  of  'pii),'  prohal)ly  arises  from  its  being  asso- 
ciated with  serious  diseases  of  the  respiratory  organs  and  from 
the  fatal  results  which  follow  the  forcible  tearing  away  of  the 
dried  epithehum.  leaving  a  bleeding  and  ulcerating  surface." 

Canker. 

Membranes  formed  in  diphtheritic  roup  are  sometimes  called 
canker,  hut  there  are  frequently  found  cheesy  patches  on  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth  or  tongue  which  are  not  asso- 
ciated with  roup.  These  growths  are  frequently,  at  least,  the 
result  of  a  traumatic  injur}-  to  the  meni])rane.  Male  birds  fre- 
duentlv  have  canker  where  the\-  have  been  picked  in  the  mouth 
l)v  other  males  when  lighting.  The  growths  arc  made  up  almost 
entireh-  of  pus  germs.  These  growths  shotdd  ])ro])ably  l)e 
considered  as  suppurating  wounds.  An  unhealthy  condition  of 
the  mucous  memljrane  of  the  mouth  dtie  to  digestive  disorders  is 
sometimes  accompanied  by  spots  of  canker. 

A  good  treatment  for  canker  is  undiluted  creolin  a])i)lied  with 
a  cotton  swab.  The  swab  should  be  held  against  each  sore  for 
a  short  time.  The  whole  surface  of  each  ])atch  should  be 
treated.  Another  good  treatment  is  to  wash  the  sores  with  hy- 
drogen ])eroxide   1   ])art  anil  water  1   part. 

7  linish. 

This  term  is  also  sometimes  incorrectly  applied  to  the  false 
membranes  of  dijjhtheria  but  there  are  at  least  two  cases  of  trtie 
thrush  on  reconl.  That  is.  in  two  ca^es  microscopic  examina- 
tion ha.s  .shown  that  the  patches,  which  in  both  these  cases  were 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  oesophagus  and  crop,  were  made  up 
of  spores  and  filaments  of  the  fungus  Saccharomyccs  albicans. 


I04  POULTRY    DISEASES    ANIi    TIII.IK    TKKA  TMKNT. 

This  fungus  causes  thrush  in  children  and  calves.  This  disease 
niav  also  occasionally  affect  the  mouth.  It  is  impossible  to 
distinguish  it  from  other  diseases  causing  similar  formations 
except  by  microscopic  examination.  The  treatment  is  the  same 
as  for  canker. 

Aspergillosis  (Mycosis  of  the  Air  Passages). 

This  is  a  verv  comuKin  disease  of  poultry,  often  mistaken  for 
tuberculosis,  in  adult  fowls  it  is  freciuent  cause  of  the  con- 
dition known  as  "going  light."  while  in  young  chickens  it  prob- 
ably ranks  next  to  white  diarrhoea  as  a  lethal  agent. 

The  discussion  of  this  disease  here  relates  primarily  to  adult 
fowls.     Aspergillosis  in  young  chicks  is  treated  in  Chap.  XIX. 

Diagnosis.  Salmon  gives  the  following  account  of  the  symp- 
toms of  this  disease.  "In  the  early  stages  of  the  disease  no 
symptoms  are  noticed,  and  it  is  only  after  it  has  progressed 
considerably  that  these  become  apparent.  The  affected  birds 
do  not  follow  the  flock;  they  are  very  weak,  scarcely  able  to 
stand,  and  consequently  remain  by  themselves  and  move  about 
very  little.  They  remain  in  a  recumbent  position,  resting  upon 
the  sternum,  are  sleepy,  and,  if  forced  to  run,  soon  fall  from  ex- 
haustion. The  plumage  is  dull  and  rough,  the  wings  are  pen- 
dant, the  eyelids  partly  closed,  the  head  depressed.  The  respi- 
raton  is  accelerated  and  accompanied  by  a  rattling  or  snoring 
sound,  particularly  during  the  expiration,  and  becomes  difficult 
and  labored,  the  bird  opening  its  beak  from  time  to  time,  in 
order  to  take  a  long  inspiration.  The  temperature  of  the  body  is 
elevated,  the  thirst  increased  and  the  appetite  is  diminished  or 
disappears.  There  is  more  or  less  catarrh  of  the  trachea  and 
bronchi,  with  emaciation  and  diarrhea  leading  to  death  from  ex- 
haustion in  from  i  to  8  weeks.  When  the  disease  is  limited  to 
the  air-sacs  of  the  interior  of  the  body,  emaciation  may  be  the 
only  symptom;  but  when  it  extends  to  the  bones  there  may  be 
lameness  with  swollen  and  painful  joints." 

"In  examining  the  birds  after  death,  the  seat  of  the  disease 
may  be  found  in  the  trachea,  bronchi,  lungs,  and  various  air- 
sacs,  and  other  internal  organs.  It  is  sometimes,  though  rarely, 
found  in  the  nostrils  and  in  the  air-sacs  of  the  interior  of  the 
bones.  Two  kinds  of  lesions  are  found.  There  may  be  tuber- 
cles resembling  those  of  tuberculosis.     These  are  whitish  or  yel- 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT.  I05 

lowish  nodules  varying  from  the  size  of  a  pinliead  to  that  of  a 
l)ea.  They  may  be  isolated  or  joined  together  in  masses  of  con- 
siderable proportions.  These  tubercles  are  generally  found  in 
the  depth  of  the  tissues,  and  even  in  the  marrow  of  the  l)ones. 
On  the  mucous  meml)ranc  lining  the  air-tuljes  and  air-sacs,  the 
second  form  of  disease  process  is  seen.  This  consists  of  a 
membranous  formation,  ^  of  an  inch  or  more  in  thickness, 
whicli  l)cars  upon  its  surface  a  growth  of  the  fungus.  These 
membranous  patches  are  at  first  soft,  but  become  firmer  with 
age,  and  are  yellowish  or  greenish  in  color,  resembling  a  fibrino- 
purulcnt  exudate.  They  adhere  closely  to  the  mucous  membrane 
which  is  there  thickened  and  inflamed.  The  air-sacs  are  some- 
times obstructed  by  these  growths  which  may  in  time  become 
caseous  or  even  calcareous.  These  changes  may  also  be  seen  in 
the  intestines,  the  mesentery,  the  liver  and  in  other  organs." 

"The  membrane  lining  the  air-passages  may,  also,  be  found 
ulcerated,  and  the  ulcers  may  be  cither  naked  or  covered  with 
a  growth  of  the   fungus." 

"In  the  very  acute  and  rapid  cases,  the  lungs  may  simply 
show  inflammation,  or  there  may  be  formation  of  pus  or 
ab.scesses  in  the  lungs,  kidneys,  liver  and  spleen  as  in  pyaemia 
or  septic  infection.  In  some  of  these  cases  there  may  be  exten- 
sive hemorrhages,  either  locally  or  throughout  the  body,  and 
these  may  constitute  the  only  apparent  alterations." 

"A  microscopic  examination  reveals  the  spores  of  filaments  of 
the  fungus  in  most  of  the  lesions,  whether  these  are  acute  or 
chronic.  The  nature  of  the  disease  may  consequently  be  deter- 
mined by  a  post-mortem  examination,  but  the  diagnosis  is  uncer- 
tain and  difticult  during  the  life  of  the  bird." 

Etiology.  The  disease  is  caused  by  moulds  of  the  genus  As- 
pcrgilliis  which  grow  on  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  air  pas- 
sage. The  four  parasitic  species  in  order  of  their  importance  are 
Aspergillus  fumigatns,  Aspergillus  nigrescens,  Aspergillus  glau- 
cus,  Aspergillus  candidus.  The  appearance  of  one  of  these 
moulds,  when  greatly  magnified  is  shown  in  fig.  22. 


io6 


I'liii.TNN'  i)isi:.\si:s  AND   riii:i 


1  Ki:.\r.Mi:NT 


Fig.     2. 


lsprr<i!lhis     finniiiatits.     Greatly     enlarged.      (After     Mohler 
and   Buckley). 


Tlie.-c  IT!  )iihls  an.l  tlieir  spores  occur  on  dead  orfranic  material 
like  straw.  i;rain,  etc.  They  arc  inhaled  in  hreathiny  or  swal- 
lowed with  the  food.  This  leing  the  ca-e  the  importance  of 
avoiding  must}'  litter,  and  mould}-  or  nnisty  grain  of  all  kinds 
is  apparent.  As  with  most  other  diseases  the  resistance  of  the 
indi\idual  a'_;ainht  infection  is  here  an  important  matter.  Some 
fowls  will  Ije  al)le  to  stand  mu.^t\-  litter  and  grain  without  any 
hru-ni.  wliilc  others  will  iirom])tl}-  develop  aspergillosis.  When 
once  present  in  a  llock  aspergillosis  is  prohahly  transmitted  fmni 
generation  to  generation  through  the  eggs. 

Treatment.  The  disease  is  prevented  h}-  having  clean,  dry, 
well  ventilated  hou^e<  and  avoiding  the  u-e  of  mouldy  litter  or 
grain.     \  igortnis  birds  under  sanitary  conditions  are  fairly  re- 


j'ori.TKV    DISKASES    AND     rili;iU    TKK ATMKXT.  10/ 

sistant.  No  medical  treatment  is  known  to  Ijc  effective.  Salmon 
gives  a  list  of  treatments  which  have  hcen  suggested  and  says 
"No  form  of  treatment  yet  suggested,  however,  is  very  prom- 
ising and  the  effort  should  be  to  prevent  rather  than  cure."  All 
birds  that  die  should  be  burned  or  buried. 

Prognosis.  The  disease  in  adult  fowls  is  ordinarily  not  recog- 
nized as  such  until  an  affected  bird  comes  to  post-mortem  at 
which  time  the  prognosis  is  certainly  extremely  unfavorable. 
So  far  as  concerns  ridding  a  poultry  plant  of  the  disease,  how- 
ever, tlic  outlook  is  favorable  if  energetic  sanitary  measures 
along  the  lines  indicated  above  are  applied. 

Congestion  of  the  Lungs. 

Congestion  of  the  lungs  is  a  distension  of  the  blood  vessels 
which  make  up  the  vascular  portion  of  those  organs.  The 
pressure  of  these  distended  vessels  may  close  the  smaller  air 
passages,  or  a  vessel  may  burst,  filling  the  bronchi.  In  either 
case  the  patient  soon  suft'ocates. 

Diagnosis. — The  symptoms  of  this  disease  are  difficult  ra])id 
breathing,  sleepiness  and  an  indisposition  to  move.  A  bloody 
mucus  sometimes  flows  from  the  mouth.  The  comb  is  dark  red 
or  bluish  from  lack  of  oxygen  in  the  blood.  Symptoms  appear 
suddenly  and  death  occurs  within  a  few  hours. 

Etiology. — This  di.^ease  is  caused  by  chilling  the  surface  of 
the  body.  This  contracts  the  surface  vessels  and  a  larger  vol- 
ume of  blood  is  sent  to  the  internal  organs.  The  pressure  on 
the  small  elastic  vessels  of  the  lungs  is  too  great  and  they  either 
close  the  air  passages  l)y  jiressing  against  them  or  the  vessel 
walls  are  rui)tured  by  the  internal  pressure  and  llic  air  passages 
become  filled  with  l)lood.  This  disease  most  often  occurs  in 
denuded  birds  (hens  during  moulting  or  young  birds  which  have 
failed  to  feather  out )  or  small  chicks  whicli  have  been  exposed 
to  cold  or  allowed  to  run  out  in  cold,  wet  weather. 

Treatment. — The  rapid  course  of  the  disease  makes  treat- 
ment impracticable.  Prevention  is  the  only  cure.  i!irds  should 
be  well  nourished  with  plenty  of  green  food  and  should  be 
especially  protected  from  cold  and  wet  when  moulting.  Also 
chicks  which  arc  in  a  stage  between  down  (chick)  and  juvenal 
feathers  need  special  protection.  This  disease  often  attacks 
brooder  chicks  and  indicates  something  wrong  with  the  brood- 
ing.    The  cause  should  be  immediately  sought  out  and  removed. 


lOS  I'OULTKV    DISKASKS    AND    TlllClK    TNI-AT  M  1- XT. 

or  considerable  loss  will  follow  Iroiii  continued  exposure  of  the 
llock. 

Prognosis. — This  disease  is  usually  fatal  in  a  few  minutes  or 
hours  after  its  symptoms  are  noted.  According  to  v^almon  the 
patient  sometimes  develops   pneumonia. 

Piicitiiionia. 

This  disease  is  a  step  heyuud  congestion  of  the  lung's.  The 
vessels  are  not  only  distended  but  liquid  escapes  through  their 
walls  and  coagulates  in  the  air  spaces.  The  lung  of  a  chick 
dead  of  pneumonia  is  (ku-k  colored  and  Ihin  and  heavier  than 
water.  A  normal  lung  floats  but  a  lung  lilled  with  this  coagu- 
lated serum  sinks. 

Diayuosis. — The  symptoms  resemble  those  of  congestion  of 
the  Inni^s.  Salmon  gives  the  following  symptoms:  "The  breath- 
ing is  rapid,  difficult  and  painful.  There  may  Ijc  coughing  with 
discharge  from  the  mouth  or  nostrils  of  thick,  adhesive  mucus, 
grayish  or  yellowish  in  color  or  tinged  with  blood.  The  bird 
stands  with  ruffled  plumage,  drooping  wings,  head  drawn  in, 
and  every  appearance  of  severe  illness.  There  is  loss  of  appe- 
tite from  the  first,  w  ith  thirst  and  constipation. 

On  examination  of  the  lungs  after  death  one  or  both  of  these 
organs  are  found  dark  in  color,  engorged  with  blood  and  solidi- 
fied. The  pneumonia  may  take  cither  one  of  two  forms.  There 
may  be  what  is  known  as  broncho-pneumonia,  in  which  case  the 
inflammation  affects  more  particularly  the  bronchi  and  the  lung 
is  not  much  .solidified.  The  bronchial  tubes  in  this  case  are 
more  or  less  filled  with  thick  mucus  and  exudate.  In  the  other 
form,  called  croupous  pneumonia,  the  tissue  of  the  lung  is  prin- 
cipally afTected.  It  is  then  that  the  lung  is  solidified  by  the 
filling  up  of  the  air-cells.  A  piece  of  lung  so  afifected,  if  (h-opped 
into  a  bucket  of  water,  sinks  to  the  bottom,  while  healthy  lung 
tissue  will  float.  The  bronchial  tubes  and  air-sacs  are  also  in 
some  cases  filled  with  a  thick,  yellowish  fibrinous  exudate  which 
blocks  up  these  air-passages  and  becomes  partly  solidified." 

Etiology. — The  cause  of  pneumonia  in  birds  is  not.  known. 
Salmon  suggests  that  it  may  be  caused  in  birds  as  the  similar 
disease  is  known  to  be  in  some  of  the  mammals  and  man.  Rob- 
inson briefly  summarizes  Salmon's  statement  as  follows :  "He 
says  it  is  supposed  that  to  produce  pneumonia  there  must  be 
w'th  the  causes  that  produce  congestion  of  the  lungs  the  agency 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  lOQ 

of  a  germ,  a  species  of  bacteria,  harmless  when  the  king  is  in 
normal  condition,  but  harmful  when  conditions  which  cause 
congestion  are  present." 

TrcatDiciit.—Ord'marWy  it  will  not  be  advisable  to  treat  this 
disease.  A  cure  is  uiiiisiial  and  involves  such  an  amount  of 
care  and  nursing  as  to  make  it  a  most  unprofitable  proposition. 
The  following  treatments  have  been  advised  by  different  per- 
sons. 

"i. — 'Keep  the  bird  in  a  room  of  about  70  degrees,  with  steam 
from  boiling  water  if  possible.  Give  every  6  hours  i  grain 
phenacetin,  and  i  grain  sulpho-carbolate  of  zinc,  mixed  with 
bread  crumbs  enough  to  make  a  pill.  Feed  on  raw  eggs  and 
milk.  Tincture  aconite  in  the  drinking  water,  or  i  drop  every 
2  hours  in  the  egg  and  milk,  will  help  control  the  hard  breath- 
ing. If  successful  in  saving  the  bird,  build  up  its  strength  with 
tonics  such  as  nux  vomica  or  quinine.'      (Sanborn.) 

"2. — 'The  bird  should  be  immediately  housed  and  kept  warm. 
Counter  irritation  must  be  applied  over  the  region  of  the  lungs 
by  wetting  the  skin  under  the  feathers  on  the  back  with  tincture 
of  iodine.  Stimulants  should  be  administered  3  or  4  times  a 
day — 2  drops  of  spirits  of  camphor  and  10  drops  of  brandy  in 
a  teaspoonful  of  warm  milk.  Soft,  nutritious  diet,  especially 
chopped  beef,  is  necessary.  Beaten  egg  and  port  wine  is  also 
useful.  Three  or  4  drops  of  chlorodyne  may  be  given  in  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  linseed  tea  to  relieve  the  more  distressing  symp- 
toms; and  ultimately,  if  the  case  progresses  favorably,  mineral 
tonics  and  cod  liver  oil  are  favorable  in  establishing  conva- 
lescence.'    (Hill.) 

''3. — 'Place  bird  in  a  warm  room  and  cover  with  a  piece  of 
blanket,  leaving  the  head  uncovered  that  it  may  have  plenty  of 
air.  Give  linseed  tea  frequently  in  small  quantities.  To  make 
this  tea :  Pour  a  pint  of  boiling  water  on  an  ounce  of  flaxseed, 
and  keep  hot,  but  not  boiling,  for  two  hours.  Strain  to  remove 
the  seeds.  The  liquid  may  then  be  used  as  a  drink,  or  medicines 
may  be  given  in  it.  Dissolve  enough  nitrate  of  potash  in  the 
drink  to  give  the  bird  about  i  grain  3  times  a  day.  If  the  bird 
ie  failing  and  becomes  sleepy,  with  comb  turning  dark,  mix  15 
drops  of  tincture  of  digitalis  with  i  ounce  of  water,  and  give 
10  drops  of  the  mixture  every  2  hours.  To  give  medicine  use 
a  medicine  dropper,  and  be  careful  to  avoid  getting  it  into  the 


1  lO 


I'ori.im     DISKASl'S    AM)     IlllllK    TKKATMKNT, 


air  passages.  W  Iku  iIk'  bird  begins  to  improve,  give  a  grain 
oi  (|uinine,  or  lo  drop^  of  co(\  liver  oil  twiee  a  day."  (Sal- 
mon. )" 

'fiihrrciilosis. 

This  disease  in  l)irds  docs  not  usually  affeet  the  respiratory 
system,  but  is  more  commonly  confnicd  to  the  abdominal  vis- 
cera, and  is  discussed  with  the  diseases  of  the  organs  of  ali- 
mentary tract   (  Cha]).   V  ) . 

The  Air-Sac  Mitr. 

A  species  of  mite  (Cytoditcs  iiiidtis)  infects  the  air-sacs  and 
bionchi  of  poultry. 

Diagnosis. — When  the  birds  are  not  bad)}-  infested  there  are 
no  e.Nternal  symptoms.  If  badly  infested  the  bird  may  become 
an?emic  and  listless  and  finally  die  of  exhaustion.  Or.  if  the  air 
passages  are  seriously  obstructed  l)y  the  collection  of  parasites 
and  mucus  there  will  l)e  a  rattling  in  the  throat  and  coughing, 
and  death  may  result  from  suffocation.  The  presence  of  the 
parasites  is  often  found  only  on  examination  of  dead  birds. 
They  appear  as  a  yellow  or  white  dust,  each  particle  of  which 
is  a  mite.     If  closely  watched  the  particles  may  be  seen  to  move. 

Etiology. — The  mite  probably 
enters  the  air-sacs  by  crawling 
in  the  nostrils  and  finrling  its 
way  down  the  trachea  and  bron- 
chi to  the  sacs.  The  parasites 
are  able  to  live  only  a  short  time 
outside  the  bird's  body.  The 
mouth  parts  of  these  mites  are 
modified  into  sucking  tubes. 
They  attack  the  mucous  mem- 
brane  of  the  air-sacs  and  bron-  y^'^  / 
chi.     When  the  number  of  para-  /^ 

sites  is  small  they  cause  no  seri- Pig     ,^     CytadUcs    „udus.    The 
ous    mconvemence    to    the    bu'd.      ^j^  snc  mite.     Greatly  enlarged. 
^\'hen  there  are  a  large  number     (After  Theobald), 
present  they  may  cause  inflammation  of  the  membrane  and  secre- 
tion of  mucus  or  they  may  seriously  ol)-truct  the  air  passages. 

Treatment. — Treatment  of  infested  birds  is  probably  useless. 
Feeding  sulphur  with  the  food  or  comj^clling  the  birds  to  inhale 


l'()ri,TK\-    DISKASI'S    AM)    Tlil'.IK    T  KIvATMENT.  Ill 

tlu'  I'uuK's  of  l)uniin;;  suliilmr  i'V  Imniini;'  lar  or  tlu-  slrain  of 
l)oiliiiL;'  tar  water  ha^  hccii  rccomnu'iKkMl. 

If  a  llock  i>  infested  with  tliis  ])arasite  it  is  l)est  wlien 
possible  to  start  a  new  lli>ek  with  incubator  chicks  raised  on  a 
new  range  and  earefull\-  i)roteeted  from  infection  from  the  old 
dock.  ( ^r  stock  ma\-  Ijc  ])urclia>e(l  from  an  uninfested  Hock. 
l*)ir(ls  with  this  i)arasite  should  not  be  boui^ht  or  sold  lor  breed- 
ing or  laving  purposes,  as  the  llock  into  which  the\'  are  intro- 
duced will  become  infested  from  them,  v'^ince  this  ])ara>ite  can 
not  live  long  outside  the  bird's  body,  the  houses,  runs,  etc.,  do 
not  remain  infested  long  after  all  the  diseased  birds  ha\e  been 
reuKwed. 

Prognosis. — A  bird  once  infected  is  probably  never  free  from 
the  parasite  but  ma}'  live  a  long  time  little  harmed  by  its  ])resence. 


CII.\I'TK1>1    Ml  I. 


DlSKASKS    01-    TIIK    ClRCUI.ATOKV    SvSTIiM. 

Pericarditis  (Inflammation  of  the  Pericardium.  Dropsy  of  the 

Heart  Sac). 

This  disease  is  often  found  associated  with  other  diseases  of 
the  circulatory  system  and  with  diseases  of  the  hnigs  and  air- 
sacs  and  also  with  soreness  of  the  joints. 

Diagnosis.— A  differential  diagnosis  of  this  disease  during  life 
h  not  usually  possible.  Salmon  gives  the  following  symptoms: 
'There  is  great  weakness,  difficult  breathing,  the  head  being 
thrown  backwards.  an:l  the  breath  drawn  through  the  mouth  in 
order  to  ol)tain  sufficient  air.  If  forced  to  run  the  bird  soon 
falls.  In  a  case  observed  by  Hill  there  was  tumultuous  action 
of  the  heart  and  occasional  spasms."  Examination  of  a  bird 
dead  from  this  disease  shows  the  heart  sac  full  of  serous  liquid 
and  sometimes  the  cavity  is  divided  by  false  membranes  which 
may  attach  to  the  heart  as  well  as  to  the  pericardium. 

Btiology. — The  causes  of  this  inflammation  are  not  known. 
It  may  result  from  exposure  to  cold  or  dampness. 

Treatment. — Treatment  is  impossible  since  the  disease  can  not 
be  diagnosed  until  after  death.  Successive  cases  in  tlic  same 
flock  indicate  exposure  of  the  Hock  to  cold  or  wet  weather  or 
to  confinino-  the  birds  in  insanitary  houses.  These  conditions 
should  be  remedied.  Salmon  also  recommends  in  such  cases 
"2  to  4  grains  of  bicarbonate  of  soda  to  each  bird  daily  in  tlie 
drinking  water." 

Endocarditis    (Inflammation  of  the   Interna!  Membranes  of 

the  Heart). 

In  the  examination  of  dead  birds  it  is  sometimes  fountl  that 
the  membrane  lining  the  heart  is  reddened  and  coagulated  lymph 
may  adhere  to  it.  Little  is  known  of  this  disease  in  fowls.  It 
cannot  be  distinguished  from  pericarditis  except  by  an  examina- 
tion of  the  heart.  The  cause  and  treatment  suggested  for  that 
disease  probably  apply  equally  in  these  cases. 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  II3 

Myocarditis  diptJicritica. 

According  to  Ziirn,  Piollingcr  has  described  a  bacterial  disease 
ot  tile  licart  and  bloi^d  vessels  of  fowls  and  piij^enns.  The  dis- 
ease is  caiisetl  bv  a  l)acteriuni  which  resembles  the  bacterium  of 
roup.  The  disease  attacks  the  lining  membrane  of  the  heart  and 
blood  vessels,  causing  inflammation  and  the  breaking  down  of  the 
tissue.  It  especially  affects  the  valves  of  the  heart  and  aorta, 
where  rountl  or  oval  colonies  ui  the  bacteria  are  found  on  the 
membrane.  In  these  patches  fibrin  and  red  and  white  corpuscles 
are  mingled  \\  itii  the  organisms.  The  walls  of  the  small  vessels 
of  the  lungs,  liver,  spleen,  kidneys  and  intestines  are  also  affected. 
The  liver,  spleen,  and  kidneys  arc  enlarged.  The  bacteria  are 
numerous  in  these  organs  as  well  as  in  the  blood. 

Little  is  known  of  the  frequence  of  the  occurrence  of  this  dis- 
ease and  nothing  of  methods  of  treatment. 

Enlargement  of  the  Heart  (Hypertrophy). 

The  heart  of  a  fowl  is  sometimes  enlarged.  According  to 
Cadeac  this  enlargement  most  frequently  affects  the  right  side 
of  the  heart.     The  muscle  may  be  fatty  and  degenerate. 

Diagnosis. — The  distinctive  symptom  of  this  disease  is  a  very 
rapid  beating  of  the  heart. 

Etiology. — The  cause  of  this  hypertrophy  of  the  heart  muscle 
is  not  known,  but  it  is  probably  due  to  some  derangement  in  the 
nutrition  of  the  muscle.  The  palpitations  are  increased  by  ex- 
citement or  fright. 

Treatment. — The  disease  is  not  usually  recognized  while  the 
bird  is  alive.     Treatment  is  therefore  not  possible. 

Prognosis. — A  hypertrophied  heart  may  function  for  a  long 
time.  The  violent  beating  may  cause  rupture  of  a  blood  vessel; 
sometimes  several  vessels  are  ruptured  at  the  same  time. 

Rupture  of  tlie  Heart  and  Large  Blood  Vessels. 

Internal  hemorrhage  due  to  the  rupture  of  the  heart  or  large 
blood  vessels  often  occurs  in  full  blooded  fowls. 

Diagnosis — The  bird  becomes  weak  and  drowsy,  passes  into  a 
comatose  condition  and  dies  with  the  characteristic  appearance 
associated  with  bleeding  to  death. 

Etiology. — In  full  blooded  fowls  any  excitement  or  over-exer- 
tion which  causes  an  increase  in  the  rate  of  heart  beat  and  an 

8 


114  POULTRY    DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

increased  I)loo{l  pressure  may  result  in  a  rupture  of  the  heart 
or  one  (^f  tlic  large  vessels. 

Treatment. — The  accident  can  ma  be  ]»rc(Hctcd  and  treatment 
is  impossible. 

Pronnosis. — The  hird  dies  in  a  short  time. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    BLOOD. 

Various  cases  of  an  alteration  in  the  number  of  white  cor- 
puscles in  the  blood  of  fowls  have  been  described.  Most  of  these 
descriptions  are  based  on  from  one  to  three  cases,  and  from  the 
descriptions  it  appears  that  the  investigators  have  found  several 
different  blood  diseases.  A'lost  of  these  diseases  when  tested 
did  not  prove  infectious.  They  are  impossible  to  distinguish 
except  by  microscopic  examination  and  most  of  them  are  prob- 
ably quite  rare.  Only  one  of  these  diseases  seems  to  be  of  any 
economic  importance.  This  is  Lifcctioits  Lenkccmia,  first  de- 
scribed by  [Nloore  (Ann.  Rep.  Bur.  An.  Ind.  1895-1896). 

Infections  Lenkccmia. 

This  is  a  bacterial  disease  often  mistaken  for  fowl  cholera  but 
caused  by  a  different  species  of  bacteria  and  the  lesions  produced 
are  somewhat  different. 

Diagnosis. — The  following  symptomatology  is  quoted  from 
Moore :  "From  the  statement  of  the  owners  of  the  fowls  in  the 
different  outbreaks  and  from  the  appearance  of  those  in  which 
the  disease  was  artificially  produced,  little  can  be  positively 
recorded  concerning  the  distinctive  or  characteristic  symptoms. 
The  only  fowl  examined  ante-mortem  from  the  natural  outbreaks 
was  first  seen  only  a  few  hours  before  death,  when  it  was  unable 
to  stand.  If  held  in  an  upright  position,  the  head  hung  down. 
There  was  a  marked  ansemic  condition  of  the  mucosa  of  the  head. 
It  had  an  elevation  of  nearly  3  degrees  of  temperature.  An 
examination  of  the  blood  showed  a  marked  diminution  in  the 
number  of  red  corpuscles  and  an  increase  in  the  number  of  white 
ones.  In  the  disease  produced  artificially  by  feeding  cultures  of 
the  specific  organism  there  was  in  most  cases  a  marked  drowsi- 
ness and  general  debility  manifested  from  i  to  4  days  before 
death  occurred.  The  period  during  which  the  prostration  was 
complete  varied  from  a  few  hours  to  two  days.  The  mucous 
membranes  and  skin  about  the  head  became  pale.     There  was 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THEIR   TREATMENT.  TI5 

an  elevation  of  from  i  to  4  degrees  of  temperature.  The  fever 
was  of  a  continuous  type." 

"Although  the  course  of  the  disease  in  the  different  fowls  was 
usually  constant,  there  were  many  variations.  In  a  few  indi- 
viduals the  time  required  for  fatal  results  was  from  2  to  3  weeks, 
but  ordinarily  death  occurred  in  about  8  days  after  feeding  the 
virus,  the  rise  in  temperature  being  detected  about  the  third  day 
and  external  symptoms  about  the  fifth  or  sixth,  occasionally  not 
until  a  few  hours  before  death.  The  symptoms  observed  in  the 
cases  produced  by  feeding  correspond  with  those  described  by 
the  owners  of  affected  flocks." 

Dr.  Moore  found  the  only  constant  lesions  to  be  in  the  blood 
and  liver.  The  change  in  the  blood  as  noted  above  was  a  de- 
crease in  the  number  of  white  cells.  The  change  in  the  liver  is 
described  by  Moore  as  follows : 

"The  liver  was  somewhat  enlarged  and  dark  colored,  except- 
ing in  a  few  cases  in  which  the  disease  was  produced  by  intra- 
venous injections.  A  close  inspection  showed  the  surface  to  be 
sprinkled  with  minute  grayish  areas.  The  microscopic  examina- 
tion showed  the  blood  spaces  to  be  distended.  The  hepatic  cells 
were  frequently  changed,  so  that  they  stained  very  feebly,  and 
not  infrequently  the  cells  were  observed  in  which  the  liver  cells 
appeared  to  be  dead  and  the  intervening  spaces  infiltrated  with 
round  cells.  The  changes  in  the  hepatic  tissue  are  presumably 
secondary  to  the  engorgement  of  the  organ  with  blood." 

Dawson's  diagnosis  of  the  disease  (An.  Rep.  Bur.  An.  Ind. 
1898,  p.  350)  differs  somewhat  from  the  one  given  by  Moore. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  distinguish  this  disease  from  fowl  cholera 
except  by  identifying  the  bacteria  which  produce  the  diseases. 
Moore  contrasts  the  characteristic  lesions  in  the  appended  col- 
umns : 


Fowl  cholera 

Infectious    leukaemia. 

I. 

Duration  of  the   disease   from 

I. 

Duration   of   the   disease  from 

a  few  hours  to  several  days. 

a  few  hours  to  several  days. 

2. 

Elevation   of  temperature. 

2. 

Elevation  of  temperature. 

3. 

Diarrhea. 

3- 

Diarrhea    very    rare. 

4- 

Intestines  deeply  reddened. 

4- 

Intestines  pale. 

5- 

Intestinal        contents        liquid, 

5- 

Intestinal    contents    normal    in 

muco-purulent,       or       blood 

consistency. 

stained. 

6. 

Heart  usually  pale  and  dotted 

6. 

Heart  dotted  with  ecchymoses. 

with  grayish   points,    due  to 
cell   infiltration. 

no  I'UILTKV   DISKASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

Forvl  cholera  Infectious  leukaemia 

~.     Lungs  affected,  hyperaemic  or      7.     Lungs     normal     .excepting     in 
pneumonic.  modified  cases. 

8.  Specific    organisms    appear  in      8.     Specific     organisms     compara- 

large   numbers   in   the  blood  lively   few  in  the  blood  and 

and  organs.  organs. 

9.  Blood    pale    (cause   not   deter-      9.     Blood     pale,    marked    diminu- 

mincd).  tion    in    the    number    of    red 

ID.     Condition  of  leucocytes  not  dc-  corpuscles. 

termined.  10.     Increase     in     tlic     number     of 

leucocytes. 

Attention  should  be  called  to  the  fact  that  as  yet  there  seems 
not  to  have  been  a  careful  study  of  the  condition  of  the  blood  in 
fowl  cholera.  Dr.  Salmon  observed  many  changes  in  this  fluid 
which  may  have  been  similar  to  or  identical  with  those  herein 
recorded. 

On  p.  201  of  Dr.  .Moore's  paper  he  gives  the  method  of  differ- 
entiating the  two  l)acteria.  This  is,  of  course,  dependent  on 
microscopic  examination  and  cultural  tests.  A  full  description 
of  Bacterium  sangiiinarium  is  given  by  Moore  on  pp.  188-191  of 
the  paper  cited  above. 

Etiology. — The  disease  is  caused  by  a  non-motile,  rod-shaped 
bacterium  (Bacterium  sanguinarium.)  This  bacterium  causes 
the  disease  when  injected  into  the  blood  or  when  fed.  In  a  few 
cases  fowls  arc  known  to  have  contracted  the  disease  by  picking 
up  the  droppings  of  infected  fowls. 

More  recent  work*  indicates  that  there  is  at  least  one  sort  of 
transmissible  fowl  leukaemia  which  is  dependent  upon  a  filter- 
able \irus,  rather  than  upon  a  visible  organism. 

Moore  says:  "This  disease  of  fowls  has  not  been  found  in 
flocks  where  a  good  sanitary  regime  has  been  enforced.  It  is 
highly  probable  that  it  is  a  filth  disease,  being  dependent  upon 
unfavorable  environments  quite  as  much  as  the  specific  organism 
for  the  ability  to  run  a  rapidly  fatal  course  and  of  spreading  to 
the  entire  flock." 

Treatment. — Prevention  is  the  only  known  treatment.  A 
maintenance  of  generally  sanitary  conditions  and  the  avoidance 
of  the  introduction  of  diseased  birds  are  efifectual.     If  the  dis- 


*Ellerman,  V.,  and  Bang.  O.,  Cent.  f.  Bakt.,  Orig.,  1908  xlvi,  p.  595; 
Ztschr  f.   Hyg.  u.  inf  .Krnkh.,   1909,  Ixiii,  p.  231. 

Hirchfield,  H.,  and  Jacoby,  M.,  Ztschr  f.  klin.  Med.  1909-10,  Ixix, 
p.    107. 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND   THEIR    TREATMENT.  II7 

ease  appears  in  the  Hock  separate  the  diseased  birds,  disinfect 
the  premises,  and  i)lace  the  flock  under  sanitary  conditions.  The 
disease  will  probably  disappear,  as  it  is  difficult  experimentally 
to  maintain  an  infection  when  the  birds  are  kept  under  sanitary 
conditions. 

Prog)iosis. — Diseased  birds  usually  die  in  from  a  few  hours  to 
two  weeks,  but  they  may  recover. 


CHAPTER   XIV 


Diseases  of  the   Nervous   System. 
Apoplexy  (Hemorrhage  of  the  Brain). 

In  this  disease  the  bird  usually  drops  dead  or  paralyzed  with- 
out showing  any  previous  sign  of  illness.  The  only  abnormality 
found  on  examination  of  the  dead  bird  is  clotted  blood  on  the 
brain. 

Etiology. — The  cause  of  this  disease  is  the  rupture  of  a  blood 
vessel  in  the  brain  and  the  pressure  on  the  brain  due  to  the  blood 
which  escapes.  The  cause  of  this  rupture  may  be  an  unhealthy 
condition  (usually  a  fatty  degeneration)  of  the  walls  of  the 
brain  blood  vessels.  The  immediate  cause  of  the  rupture  is 
increased  blood  pressure  due  to  fright,  over-exertion,  or  strain 
in  laying  (hens  often  die  on  the  nest).  This  disease  is  more  apt 
to  attack  very  fat  birds  and  the  degeneration  of  the  vessels  is 
supposed  to  be  due  to  too  rich  food  or  to  overfeeding. 

Treatment. — Treatment  of  the  affected  birds  is  useless.  So- 
called  "apoplexy  cures,"  of  which  there  are  some  on  the  market, 
should  be  left  strictly  alone  by  the  poultryman.  Only  very  rarely 
can  apoplexy  be  recognized  till  after  the  bird  is  dead,  and  then 
all  the  pills  or  potions  ever  invented  for  the  purpose  of  swind- 
ling a  gullible  public  will  be  of  no  avail.  If  several  successive 
deaths  from  apoplexy  occur,  modify  the  ration,  giving  more 
Screen  food  and  less  meat  and  corn.  See  that  the  birds  have 
plenty  of  range. 

Prognosis. — The  bird  is  usually  found  dead  or  dies  in  a  little 
while. 

Heat  Prostrations. 

In  very  warm  weather  heat  prostrations  may  occur,  especially 
among  heavy  fowls.  This  is  sometimes  considered  to  be  the 
same  thing  as  apoplexy.  The  birds  sudflenly  drop  insensible 
or  paralyzed. 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  II9 

Btiology. — The  cause  is  pressure  on  the  brain,  due  to  heat, 
but  the  blood  vessels  are  not  ruptured  as  in  apoplexy. 

Treatment. — Mild  cases  may  be  treated  by  applying  cold 
water  to  the  head  and  keeping  the  bird  in  a  cool,  quiet  place. 

Prognosis. — Mild  cases  may  recover.  Others  usually  result 
fatally  in  a  short  time.  As  a  preventative  avoid  overcrowding 
in  hot  weather.  If  the  range  is  not  provided  with  natural  shade, 
supply  artificially  shaded  places  in  which  the  birds  may  find 
protection  from  the  hot  sun  during  the  middle  of  the  day. 

Congestion  of  the  Brain   {Vertigo,  Cerebral  Hypercemia). 

A  number  of  abnormal  physiological  conditions  may  lead  to 
a  congestion  of  blood  in  the  brain.  This  is  usually  associated 
with  a  diseased  condition  of  other  organs,  and  hence  often 
occurs  as  a  complication  with  other  diseases.  It  is  sometimes 
due  to  injury  of  the  head. 

Diagnosis. — Pearson  (Diseases  of  Poultry)  gives  the  follow- 
ing diagnosis  of  this  disease :  "It  is  characterized  by  staggering, 
stupor,  unusual  movements  such  as  walking  backward  or  walk- 
ing in  a  circle,  unusual  and  irregular  movements  with  the  wings 
and  feet  and  twisting  the  head  backward  or  to  the  side.  Some- 
times the  bird  will  fall  on  its  side  and  make  peculiar  movements 
with  its  feet  and  wings  as  though  attempting  to  run  or  fly." 

Etiology. — The  congestion  of  the  brain  is  sometimes  due  to 
blows  on  the  head  or  to  fright  or  other  intense  excitement. 
Often  it  is  associated  with  acute  indigestion  or  with  the  presence 
of  parasitic  intestinal  worms. 

Treatment. — Apply  cold  water  to  the  head.  Administer  a  lax- 
ative (2  teaspoorsful  of  castor  oil,  or  30  grains  of  Epsom  salts 
given  in  water  or  i)^  grains  of  calomel).  Kcc])  tlie  fowl  in  a 
cool,  quiet  place.  If  this  treatment  is  not  efticient  Salmon 
recommends  i  to  5  grains  of  bromide  of  potassium  dissolved  in 
I  tablespoonful  of  water  3  times  a  day.  If  intestinal  worms 
are  fcnnirl  in  the  droppings  after  tlie  laxative,  treat  for  tlic  re- 
moval of  these  parasites  (p.  79). 

Prognosis. — The  bird  may  recover  if  the  cause  is  removed. 

Epilepsy. 

This  somewhat  rare  (li>ease  is  cliaracterized  b_\-  occasional  fits. 
Between  these  the  birds  appear  normal. 


120  POULTRY   DISEASKS    AND    TIIKIK    TREATMENT. 

Diaijnosis. — PcarsDii  (  1  )iscascs  of  roultrv  )  descriljcs  the  be- 
havior of  the  l)ir(l  (hiring  the  lit  as  follows:  "The  fowl  will 
make  l)eatini;  movements  with  its  wings,  its  legs  will  draw  up 
and  it  will  fall  down,  sometimes  turn  over  on  its  back,  or  it  may 
stand  upright  with  its  legs  apart,  head  turned  backward  and 
mouth  and  eyes  opening  and  closing  spasmodically." 

This  spasm  passes  away  after  a  time  and  leaxes  the  bird  in  a 
normal  condition. 

FUiologw — It  is  ofUn  impossible  to  discover  any  cause  of  the 
disease.  It  is  said  ti>  l)e  sometimes  caused  by  tumors  on  the 
brain  and  soiuetimes  l)y  intestinal  woi"ms. 

Treatment. — The  only  cases  that  can  be  treated  are  those 
caused  by  the  presence  of  intestinal  worms.  \n  affected  bird 
should  be  put  up  and  given  a  la.xative  and  if  intestinal  worms 
are  passed  treat  the  j)alient  for  the  removal  of  these  parasites 

(P-  79)- 

The  bird-^  may  li\-e  some  time  with  occasional  fits  and  may 

recover.     Cases  caused  l)v  iiite-^tiiial  worms  arc  definitely  cured 
])y  reniijving  the  parasites. 


CHAPTER    X\'. 


Diseases  of  the   Kidneys.  Riielmatism   and  Limherxeck. 

Gout. 

Gout  is  a  rather  common  disease  among  fowls.  It  is  due  to 
a  failure  of  the  kidneys  to  eliminate  the  urates.  The  uric  acid 
content  of  the  blood  is  greatly  increased  antl  the  urates  are 
deposited  on  the  surface  of  the  visceral  organs,  in  the  tissues 
of  the  urinary  apparatus  and  around  the  joints  in  the  form  of 
crystals  of  urate  of  soda.  In  fowls  two  forms  of  the  disease 
occiu" ;  the  visceral,  and  the  articular. 

Visceral  Gout. 

In  visceral  gout  the  only  symptoms  shown  by  an  affected  bird 
are  a  loss  in  weight  or  '"going  light"  and  a  slight  yellowish  tinge 
to  the  skin,  comb  and  wattles.  The  bird  has  a  good  and  often 
abnormal  appetite.  Death  occurs  suddenly.  An  examination 
of  the  abdominal  cavity  shows  that  all  the  organs  and  serous 
membranes  are  covered  with  a  chalky  or  talcum-like  powder. 
This  powder  has  a  mother-of-pearl  luster  and  on  microscopic 
examination  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  small  needle-like  crystals. 
These  are  crystals  of  urate  of  soda.  These  crystals  are  also 
found  in  the  luminary  organs.  The  ureter  and  collecting  tubules 
are  often  filled  with  a  mass  of  these  crystals.  Drs.  Hebrant 
and  Antoine  give  the  following  test  for  the  urate  of  soda. 

Dissolve  the  crystals  in  nitric  acid  and  evaporate  in  a  watch 
glass.  This  gives  a  red  onion  peel  mass  which  turns  purplish 
blue  on  the  addition  of  a  solution  of  caustic  potash. 

Articular   Gout. 

In  this  form  of  the  disease  the  cr}stals  of  urate  of  soda  are 
in  nodules  around  the  joints  especially  of  the  feet  and  toes. 
These  nodules  sometimes  appear  like  strings  of  beads  on  the 
under  side  of  the  toes.  They  contain  a  white  or  creamy  thick 
liquid  composed  mostly  of  the  crystals.  They  are  at  first  soft 
but  later  become  very  firm.  The  presence  of  the  no  lules  causes 
stiffness  and  soreness  of  the  joints  and  the  liirds  become  indis- 


122  POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

posed  to  stand  or  walk.  Sometimes  the  nodules  ulcerate,  dis- 
cliarging  a  stringy  pus  and  exposing  the  cavities  of  the  joints 
to  the  air.  The  development  of  fistulas  cause  the  death  of  the 
hones.  The  (Hsease  is  slow  in  its  development  and  advanced 
stages  are  seen  only  in  old  birds.  The  birds  lose  weight  and  in 
advanced  stages  diarrhea  sets  in  and  death  from  exhaustion 
follows. 

Early  stages  of  this  disease  arc  often  mistaken  for  rheuma- 
tism on  account  dF  tlic  stiffness  and  soreness  of  the  joints. 

Etiology. — The  cause  of  this  disease  is  a  disturbance  of  the 
normal  physiology  of  excretion  so  that  the  uric  acid  which 
should  be  excreted  b\-  the  kidneys  is  first  retained  in  the  blood 
and  then  deposited  within  the  body  as  crystals  of  urate  of  soda. 
The  disturbance  is  probably  due  to  a  diet  which  is  too  rich  in 
proteids. 

Trcatmciif. — In  case  of  articular  gout  Salmon  recommends 
rubbing  the  affected  joints  with  camphorated  or  carbolic  oint- 
ment. In  well  developed  cases  it  is  more  profitable  to  kill  the 
birds  than  to  treat  them.  A'isceral  gout  is  not  usually  recog- 
nized v.hile  the  bird  is  alive.  Prevention  is  the  only  reliable 
treatment  for  either  form  of  gout.  Birds  should  be  kept  under 
sanitary  conditions  and  given  plenty  of  green  food.  When  sev- 
eral birds  develop  the  disease  it  is  well  to  give  the  whole  flock 
Epsom  salts  (34  to  ^  teaspoonful  per  bird)  and  to  reduce  the 
amount  of  meat  scrap  and  increase  the  quantity  of  green  food. 

Prognosis. — The  disease,  especially  the  articular  form,  is 
chronic  and  advanced  cases  are  only  found  in  old  birds.  Badly 
diseased  birds  mav  live  a  long  time.  Mild  cases  may  recover 
on  corrected  diet. 

Other  Diseased  Coiiditio)is  of  the  Kidneys. 

In  llie  examination  of  dead  birds  cases  are  often  observed 
where  the  kidneys  are  diseased.  They  are  often  enlarged. 
Sometimes  they  contain  dark  points  caused  by  the  rupture  of 
small  blood  vessels,  and  in  other  cases  they  may  contain  ab- 
scesses. Micro-organisms  have  been  obtained  from  some  cases 
of  diseased  kidneys.  Nothing  is  yet  known  of  the  causes  of 
these  specific  diseased  conditions  in  poultry.  Some  of  the  cases 
of  under-development,  especially  of  pullets,  are  apparently  flue 
to  enlarged  kidneys.  In  such  cases  the  birds  usually  lose  their 
appetite,  become  emaciated  and  their  feathers  are  roughened. 
Xo  dependable  diagnosis  of  diseased  kidneys  can  be  made  on 


rOUI.TRV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIR    TREATMENT.  I23 

the  living  fowl.  When  several  cases  occur  care  should  be  taken 
to  see  that  the  llcjck  receives  a  balanced  ration  with  plenty  of 
green  food,  as  diseased  kidneys  may  occur  from  too  much  pro- 
tein in  the  food. 

RJicuiiHjfisiJi. 

A  lameness  or  stiffness  is  usually  considered  rheumatism. 
Many  such  cases  are  due  to  tuberculosis  of  the  joints  (p.  60), 
and  others  to  articular  gout  (p.  121),  but  there  are  muscular 
and  joint  inflammations  caused  by  exposure  which  are  properly 
considered  rheumatism.  This  disease  is  an  inflammation  of  the 
connective  tissues  of  the  muscles  and  joints. 

Etiology. — It  is  caused  by  exposure  to  cold  or  dampness.  The 
occurrence  of  several  cases  in  the  flock  indicates  something 
wrong  in  the  housing  conditions. 

Treatment. — The  disease  is  prevented  by  keeping  the  fowls 
in  (h'v.  warm,  well  ventilated  houses  with  well  drained  runs. 

Prognosis. — Fowls  protected  from  further  exposure  and 
given  a  good  ration  with  ])lenty  of  green  food  usually  recover. 

Liinbcrncck. 

This  is  not  properly  a  disease  but  a  symptov.i  which  accom- 
panies several  diseased  conditions.  A  fowl  is  said  to  have 
limberneck  wdien  partial  or  entire  nervous  control  of  the  neck 
muscles  is  lost.  The  neck  may  hang  limp  so  that  the  head  falls 
on  the  ground  between  the  feet.  Sometimes  the  bird  is  able  to 
rai.se  the  Iiead  from  tlie  ground  l)y  making  a  great  effort. 

A  bird  is  sometimes  said  to  have  limberneck  wItcu  the  dorsal 
or  lateral  neck  muscles  are  tense,  tlie  Iiea  1  drawn  convulsively 
backward.  ])ut  tliis  is  more  often  called  "wry-neck." 

Both  limberneck  and  wry-neck  are  due  to  nervous  disorders 
which  arise  from  several  different  causes.  "Wry-neck"  is  usu- 
ally associated  with  direct  brain  or  nerve  irritation  and  occurs 
in  epileptic  spasms,  but  also  sometimes  occurs  in  rheumatism. 
Limberneck  is  usually  associated  with  colic,  acute  indigestion, 
intestinal  parasites,  or  ptomaine  poisoning. 

No  treatment  for  limberneck  as  such  can  lie  advised.  Effort 
should  be  made  to  ascertain  and  cure  tlie  diseased  condition 
which  is  respon'^il)le  fcu-  this  symptom. 

Cases  due  to  rheumatism,  colic,  indigestion,  intestinal  para- 
sites, and  some  of  those  due  to  poisoning  may  recover,  if  the 
real  cause  can  be  ascertained  and  treated  soon  enough. 


CllAl'TER    X\I. 


External  Parasites. 

\  igilant  and  continuous  attention  is  necessary  to  keep  fowls 
free  from  external  parasites.  At  least  32  species  of  arachnids 
^nd  insects  are  known  to  be  parasitic  on  fowls.  Some  of  these 
like  the  red  mites  visit  their  host  only  to  take  food  and  spend 
the  rest  of  the  time  mi  the  mider  side  of  the  roosts,  in  cracks 
and  crevices  and  various  otlur  i)laces  of  seclusion.  Others  like 
the  lice  normally  stay  on  the  birds,  although  occasionally  some 
in(li\i(hials  crawl  off,  especially  into  the  nest.  Some  of  these 
parasites  live  upon  the  surface  of  the  skin  and  upon  the  feathers, 
deriving  their  nourishment  either  by  sucking  the  blood  like  the 
red  mite,  or  by  chewing  the  skin  and  feathers  like  the  lice  and 
some  of  the  mites.  Some  of  the  mites,  however,  bore  under 
the  skin,  causing  skin  diseases  known  as  scabies  or  psoric  dis- 
eases. The  most  common  of  these  diseases  are  scabby  or  scaly 
leg  and  depluming  scabies. 

The  economic  importance  of  these  external  parasites  is  very 
great.  Fowls  infested  with  one  or  several  of  these  species  of 
parasites  are  not  profitable.  They  make  a  smaller  growth  in 
the  same  time  with  the  same  food  and  their  egg  production  is 
not  equal  to  similar  birds  not  so  infested.  Xot  only  are  they 
constantly  robbed  of  some  of  their  tissue  and  blood  but  their 
rest  is  disturbed.  Sleep  is  as  important  to  the  normal  ])hysi- 
ology  of  a  l)ird  as  it  i^  to  that  of  a  man. 

Kccpiiii^  a  Poultry  Plant  Fvcc  from  External  Parasites. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  a  poultryman  to  be  able  to  distinguish 
the  32  species  of  ])arasites  or  to  know  their  life  histories  in  order 
to  keep  his  plant  free  from  them.  It  is  only  necessary  to  know 
that  some  of  them  stay  on  the  birds  and  can  only  be  extermi- 
p.ated  by  treating  the  birds  (usually  with  a  powder)  while  others 
spend  most  of  their  time  on  the  under  sides  of  the  roosts  in 
cracks  and  can  best  be  exterminated  by  contact  sprays  contain- 
ing crcsol  or  kerosene.     A  single  application  is  not  efficient  in 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AKD    Til  KIR    TREATMENT.  1 25 

either  case  but  treatment  must  be  repeated  2  or  3  times  at  inter- 
vals of  a  few  clays  to  destroy  those  that  hatch  after  the  treat- 
ment or  are  concealed  beyond  its  reach.  A  routine  procedure 
by  which  a  poultry  plant  can  be  kept  free  from  parasites  is  very 
useful.  The  following;-  uicIIkmI  has  proven  very  successful  at 
the  Maine  Experinicnl  Station  and  is  (U'scril)e.l  in  Circular  352 
of  that   Station  : 

"The  routine  method  which  tlic  Station  uses  in  handling  its- 
stock  with  reference  to  the  lice  problem  is  as  follows: 

"All  hatching  and  rearing  of  chickens  is  done  in  incubators 
and  brooders.  The  growing  chickens  arc  never  allowed  ta 
come  into  any  contact  whatever  witli  old  hens.  Therefore, 
when  the  pullets  are  ready  to  go  into  the  laying  houses  in  the 
fall  thev  are  free  from  lice.  Sometime  in  the  later  summer. 
usually  in  August  or  early  in  September,  the  laying  houses  are 
given  a  thorough  cleaning.  They  are  first  scraped,  scoured 
and  washed  out  with  water  thrown  on  the  walls  and  floor  with 
as  much  pressure  as  possible  from  a  hose.  They  are  then  given 
two  thorough  sprayings,  with  an  interval  of  several  days  inter- 
venino-,  with  a  solution  of  cresol  such  as  is  described  in  Chap. 
II.  Then  the  roosting  boards,  nests,  floors  and  walls  to  a 
height  of  about  5  feet  are  thoroughly  sprayed  with  the  lice  paint 
(kerosene  oil  and  crude  carbolic  acid  described  on  p.  135). 
Finallv.  any  yearling,  or  older  birds,  whether  male  or  female, 
which  are  to  be  kept  over  for  the  next  year's  work  are  given 
2  or  3  successive  dustings,  at  intervals  of  several  days  to  a 
week  between  each  application,  with  the  lice  powder  described 
on  p.  130,  before  they  are  put  into  the  cleaned  houses. 

"As  a  result  of  these  methods  the  Station's  poultry  plant  is 
at  all  times  of  the  year  practically  free  of  lice." 

This  method  keeps  the  flock  free  from  lice  and  the  mites 
which  live  upon  the  surface  of  the  skin,  but  would  not  destroy 
those  mites  which  penetrate  the  skin  and  cause  scabies.  These 
and  other  more  rare  parasites  should  be  destroyed  when  present 
by  special  methods.  The  description  of,  antl  treatment  for  each 
class  of  external  parasite  is  given  below. 

A.       LICE     (mALLOPHAGa). 

Lice  are  probably  the  most  widely  distributed  parasite  of 
poultry.  They  are  so  common  that  flocks  of  fowls  that  have 
not  been  treated  to  remove  lice  for  a  long  time  are  almost  sure 


126 


I'Ori.TKV    DISKASKS    AND    TIIKIR    TKEATMENT. 


to  have  one  or  more  species  present.  At  least  8  species  of  hen 
Hce  have  been  found  and  5  of  these  are  common.  Bird  hce  are 
quite  different   from  those  which  affect  man  and  mammals. 

The  popular  notion  that  lice  may  be  transmitted  from  poultry 
to  other  animals  is  quite  erroneous.  Theobald  (Parasitic  Dis- 
eases of  Poultry)  says:  "So  particular  are  bird-lice  that  it  is 
quite  the  exception  to  iind  one  species  upon  two  distinct  kinds 
of  birds.  Fowl-lice  will  not  even  attack  the  duck  nor  duck-lice 
the  fowl.  Nearly  every  bird  has  its  own  particular  Mallopha- 
gan  parasite  or  parasites.  They  may  possibly  pass  to  some 
strange  host  for  a  short  time,  but  they  will  not  live  and  breed. 

Moreover particular  species  attack  restricted  areas  on 

the  same  host  and  are  seldom  found  in  other  positions."  Some 
of  these  lice  are  sluggish,  nearly  stationary,  and  confined  to  a 
restricted  area  of  the  body,  while  others  are  active  and  crawl 
over  the  entire  body.  The  8  known  species  are  described  in 
Theobald's  "Parasitic  Diseases  of  Poultry,"  pp.  23-29. 

The  most  common  and  widely  dis- 
tributed hen  louse  found  in  this  country 
is  Mcnopon  pallidum.  This  louse  is 
shown  in  fig.  24. 

Another  species  of  this  genus  {Meno- 
pon  biseriatitm),  which  closely  resembles 
M.  pallidum,  is  also  sometimes  found. 
These  are  active  lice  living  on  all  parts 
of  the  body.  They  often  crawl  on  to  the 
hands  when  handling  or  plucking  birds., 
and  may  sometimes  be  found  in  the  nests. 
There  are  several  other  lice  which 
sometimes  infest  poultry.  Each  of  these 
species  is  confined  to  a  special  region  of 
the  host.  Although  capable  of  crawling 
about,  the  lice  of  these  species  for  the 
most  part  remain  nearly  stationary,  often 
with  their  heads  buried  in  the  skin  and 
their  bodies  erect.  Two  species,  Lipeurus  variabilis  and  Lipeu- 
rus  hctcrographns,  live  among  the  barbs  of  the  wing  and  tail 
feathers.  Goniodcs  dissimilis  is  found  under  the  wings  and  on 
the  rump.     The  appearance  of  two  of  the  species  mentioned,  viz., 


Fig.    24.     The    common 
hen    louse    (Mcnopon 
pallidum)  Greatly  en- 
larged.        (From 
Banks). 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 


127 


Lipcunis  variabilis  and  Goniodcs  dissimilis,  is  shown  in  figs.  25 
and  26  respectively. 


Fig.   25.     Lipcunis   t'a- 

F  i  g.      26.        Goniodcs 

riabilis.       A    louse 

dissimilis,      a      louse 

that      infests      poul- 

that     infests      poul- 

try.   Much    enlarged. 

try,    ^luch    enlarged. 

(From    Banks    after 

(From    Banks    after 

Denny). 

Denny). 

A  short  account  of  the  mode  of  hfe ;  the  conditions  which 
favor  their  presence;  their  efifect  upon  the  hirds;  and  the  gen- 
eralized life  history  of  hen  lice  are  given  in  Leaflet  No.  57  of 
the  English  Board  of  Agriculture,  pp.  3  and  4.  From  this 
source  the  following  is  quoted : 

"These  Mallophaga  have  not  a  piercing  mouth,  their  mouth  is 
simply  used  for  biting.  They  subsist  upon  the  productions  of 
the  skin  and  fragments  of  feathers.  They  cause  violent  itching, 
and  bite  sharply,  and  must  produce  considerable  pain  w^hen  pres- 
ent in  large  numbers,  as  is  too  often  the  case.  The  feathers, 
especially  the  saddle  hackle,  generally  show  notched  edges  with 
lice  infestation.  Eight  distinct  species  of  lice  attack  fowds.  The 
presence  of  these  lice  is  generally  ascribed  to  too  imiform  or 
insufificient  nutrition,  or  else  to  damp,  dark,  and  dirty  runs, 
especially  those  badly  ventilated.  Food,  either  when  imiform 
or  insufficient,  has  no  eiTcct  upon  their  presence.  Dark,  damp 
places,  however,  when  dirty,  are  sure  to  harbor  all  these  pests. 
especially  when  badly  ventilated.  It  is  also  said  that  breed 
affects  their  presence,  but  ob.servation  tends  to  show  that  all 
breeds  are  more  or  less  subjected  to  infestation.  In  every  case 
they  set  up  severe  irritation  and  inflaniniation  of  the  skin,  which 
often  leads  to  stunted  growth,  and  even  death.  Lice  and  other 
parasites  flourish  on  imhealthv  birds." 


ijS 


I'ori.rin-  disi'ASKS  and  tiii;ik  tki-atmivNT. 


"J^ifc-history  of  IJcc. — .All  llie  lice  hrccd  fairly  rapidly.  The 
cgj^s  or  nits  arc  laid  upon  the  down  fcatlnr^,  a>  a  rule;  tiny  arc 
often  licautifully  sculptured  objects,  oval  in  form.  In  about  6 
U:  lo  days  they  hatch  into  small.  ])ale,  acti\e  lice,  which  at  once 
Commence  to  irritate  the  bird>.  Tlie  adult>  are  occasionally 
fi  und  in  the  ncst.s.  Some  sjKcics  are  found  copulating  in  tlie 
nests,  others  always  on  tlie  birds.  They  live  a  con>ideral)lc 
time.  Mciiopoii  pallidum  (Fig.  24)  has  been  kept  alive  for 
months  upon  fresh  feathers,  the  quill  epidermis  being  especially 
eaten.  Hefore  reaching  the  ftdl-grown  state  as  many  as  10  or 
12  moults  apparently  take  place,  there  being  little  dififerencc  in 
each  stage,  except  the  gradual  darkening  of  the  markings.'' 

The  eggs  or  nits  of  hen  lice  are  shown  in  fig.  27. 


Fig.    2"/.       Foatliers   ^hdwiiig  eggs   or  "nits"   <if   tlie   common   hen   loii.'^e. 

Enlarged    (Original). 

Methods  of  Introduction  and  Infestation. — It  is  generally 
agreed  that  lice  and  other  parasites  Hourish  best  in  insanitary 
surrotmdings.  There  mtist.  however,  be  a  source  of  infesta- 
tion. Lice  are  brought  to  a  new  place  b\^  introducing  infested 
birds.  They  .spread  from  bird  to  bird  (a)  directly  during  copu- 
lation (an  infested  cock  often  infests  the  whole  flock),  or  (b) 
wheti  two  hens  occupy  a  nc.st  together,  or  (c)  from  mother  to 
chick.  They  also  pass  indirectly  from  bird  to  bird  by  crawling 
off  one  bird  first  on  to  the  nesting  material  and  later  on  to  an- 
other l)ird   whicli  uses  the  same  nest.     Doctor  Sharp  has  also 


l'Ori.lK\     DISEASES    AND    TIII'.IK    TREATMENT.  I29 

observed  several  lice  clinging  to  the  body  of  a  tly  parasitic  upon 
chickens.  Lice  are  so  much  more  common  than  the  parasitic 
H\-  that  it  is  probable  that  this  insect  is  of  little  real  importance 
in  the  distribution  of  the  lice. 

All  the  lice  breed  very  rapidly.  In  8  weeks  the  third  genera- 
tion is  mature  and  in  this  generation  the  estimated  number  of 
the  offspring  of  a  single  pair  is  125,000  individuals.  It  seems 
important  to  eradicate  an  infestation  if  possible  as  soon  as  dis- 
covered. However,  if  kept  under  sanitary  conditions  and  fur- 
nished with  plenty  of  attractive  dust,  vigorous  birds  will  hold 
external  parasites  in  check.  With  some  attention  to  sick  birds, 
setting  hens  and  young  chicks,  the  parasites  will  give  little 
trouble  on  a  plant  conducted  with  due  regard  to  the  principles 
of  hygiene  and  sanitation  (cf.  Chap.  II). 

Diagnosis. — "It  should  be  remembered  at  all  times  that  the 
external  animal  parasites  are  the  most  common  and  frequent 
cause  of  trouble  in  the  poultry-yard  and  pigeon-cote.  If  the 
birds  are  Jiot  thriving  and  conducting  themselves  satisfactorily, 
look  for  these  pests,  take  measures  to  repress  them,  and  in  most 
cases  the  results  will  be  surprising  and  gratifying.  When  any- 
thing is  the  matter  with  a  horse  the  maxim  is  examine  his  feet, 
and  when  an}thing  is  found  wrong  with  poultry  or  other  domes- 
ticated birds,  the  maxim  should  be  look  for  lice."     (Salmon.) 

Adult  hens  may  harbor  quite  a  number  of  these  parasites  with- 
out showing  any  symptoms  which  indicate  their  presence.  If 
they  arc  unthrifty  and  broody  hens  leave  their  nests  they  should 
be  examined  for  lice.  The  biting  and  digging  of  the  claws  of 
the  lice  may  cause  sores  and  the  nerv^ous  irritation  and  loss  of 
sleep  may  cause  general  debility  and  bowel  trouble.  Little  chick- 
ens are  very  susceptible  and  often  die.  Lice  are  frequently 
found  in  large  numbers  on  birds  sufl'ering  from  roup,  gapes,  etc. 
In  some  cases  their  presence  has  rendered  the  birds  more  sus- 
ceptible to  other  disease,  while  in  others  it  is  probable  that  the 
birds  lack  sufficient  energ}^  to  dust  themselves. 

The  sure  test  for  the  presence  of  lice  is,  of  course,  finding  the 
lice,  l^art  the  fathers  under  the  wing,  on  the  back  and  around 
the  vent  and  examine  the  exposed  skin.  Examine  the  head  and 
neck  feathers  and  look  between  the  large  feathers  of  the  wing. 
\\'hen  ])resent  the  parasites  are  easily  found  by  anyone  who  is 
familiar  with  them.  It  seems  incredible  that  serious  infesta- 
tions can  escape  the  eye  of  any  poultryman. 


130  POri.TKV    DISKASES    AM)    TlIl-IU    TKKATMKNT. 

Treatment. — Sanitary  surroundirii^s  and  liberal  range  help  the 
birds  in  their  attempts  to  keep  themselves  free  from  lice.  The 
dust  bath  is  very  efficient  in  holding  the  pests  in  check.  It  is 
doubtful,  however,  whellier  the  dust  boxes  which  used  to  be 
almost  universally  kept  in  the  poultry  house  are  of  any  real 
value.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  dust  boxes  are  much  less  used 
n<  )\v  than  formerly.  This  Station  has  not  made  use  of  them  for 
a  number  of  years.  As  commonly  made  these  boxes  are  too 
small,  and  too  shallow,  and  are  not  filled  with  the  proper  kind 
of  material.  Hens  will  use  them,  in  most  cases,  only  as  a  last 
resort  if  at  all. 

When  possible,  birds  should  be  given  access  to  dry,  sandy 
ground,  and  they  will  provide  their  own  dust  bath.  Some  au- 
thors advise  adding  insect  powder  to  the  earth  in  dust  boxes  for 
bad  infestations.  It  is  doubtful  whether  under  the  best  of  cir- 
cumstances this  does  anything  but  waste  the  insect  powder.  It 
is  better  to  apply  the  powder  directly  to  the  bird  and  furnish 
clean  earth  for  the  dust  bath. 

When  hens  are  used  for  incubating  and  brooding  it  is  neces- 
sary to  give  some  individual  treatment  to  brooding  hens  and 
young  chicks.  It  is  also  necessary  to  treat  sick  hens  which  are 
not  able  to  use  the  dust  bath.  While  it  is  theoretically  possible 
to  exterminate  the  pests  and  keep  the  flock  free  from  them  by 
avoiding  the  introduction  of  infected  birds,  this  ideal  condition 
prevails  in  very  few  poultry  plants.  In  almost  all  flocks  there 
are  enough  lice  present  to  cause  trouble  if  conditions  favor  their 
development.  Robinson  gives  a  very  good  method  for  prevent- 
ing troublesome  outbreaks  in  the  following  words: 

"Treat  with  insect  powder  every  sick  fowl,  every  fowl  that 
has  been  cooped  for  some  days  where  it  could  not  dust  itself, 
every  sitting  hen  when  set,  and  at  least  twice  again  during  the 
period  of  incubation,  the  last  time  just  before  the  eggs  are  due 
to  pip;  treat  the  young  chicks  and  hen  when  a  brood  is  taken 
from  the  nest,  and  at  intervals  of  a  week  until  3  weeks  old." 

H01V  to  Make  an  Effective  and  Very  Cheap  Lice  Pozvder. 

When  the  treatment  of  individual  birds  for  lice  becomes  neces- 
sary some  kind  of  powder  dusted  into  the  feathers  thoroughly, 
seems  to  be,  on  the  whole,  the  most  effective  and  advisable 
remedy.  The  powder  used  must  be  of  such  nature,  however, 
that  it  will  be  effective.     There  are  so-called  "lice  powders"  on 


POULTRY  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  13I 

the  market  which  are  no  more  efifective  than  an  equal  quantity 
of  any  inert  powdered  substance  would  be.  It  is  not  only  a 
waste  of  money  but  of  time  as  well  to  use  such  powders.  At  the 
Maine  Station  no  lice  powder  has  been  found  that  is  so  satis- 
factory as  that  originally  invented  by  'Sir.  R.  C.  Lawry,  for- 
merly of  the  poultry  department  of  Cornell  University.  The 
following  matter  regarding  this  powder  (which  can  be  made  at 
a  cost  of  5  cents  per  pound)  is  quoted  from  a  circular  issued 
by  the  Maine  Station  : 

"In  using  any  kind  of  lice  powder  on  poultry,  whether  the 
one  described  in  this  circular  or  some  other,  it  should  always  be 
remembered  that  a  single  application  of  powder  is  not  sufficient. 
\Mien  there  are  lice  present  on  a  bird  there  are  always  unhatched 
eggs  of  lice  ("nits')  present  too.  The  proper  procedure  is  to 
follow  up  a  first  application  of  powder  with  a  second  at  an  inter- 
val of  4  days  to  a  week.  If  the  birds  are  badly  infested  at  the 
beginning  it  may  be  necessary  to  make  still  a  third  application. 

"The  lice  pozvder  which  the  Station  uses  is  made  at  a  cost  of 
only  a  few  cents  a  pound  in  the  following  way: 

"Take  ?  parts  of  gasoline, 

"i  part  of  crude  carbolic  acid; 

"To  get  the  proper  results  only  the  po-p^  per  cent,  carbolic 
acid  should  be  used  for  making  lice  powder.  Weaker  acids  are 
ineffective." 

"Owing  to  the  difficulty  in  getting  the  strong  crude  carbolic 
acid  locally  in  this  State  at  reasonable  prices,  the  Station  has 
experimented  to  see  whether  some  other  more  readily  obtain- 
able substance  could  not  be  substituted  for  it.  It  has  been 
found  that  cresol  gives  as  good  results  as  the  highest  grade 
crude  carbolic." 

"The  directions  for  making  the  powder  are  now,  therefore, 
modified  as  follows : 

"Take  j  parts  of  gasoline,  and 

I  part  of  crude  carbolic  acid,  po-pj  per  cent,  strength, 
or,  if  the  po'p^  per  cent,  strength  crude  carbolic  acid  cannot  be 
obtained  take 

J  parts  of  gasoline  and 
I  part  of  cresol." 
"Mix  these  together  and  add  gradually  with  stirring,  enough 
plaster  of  paris  to  take  up  all  the  moisture.     As  a  general  rule 
it   will  take  about  4  quart?  of  plaster  of  paris  to   i   quart  of 


13^  POri.TKV    DISKASF.S    AND    TIIICIR    TRKATMKNT. 

the  li(|uiil.  The  exact  amount,  however,  must  he  determined 
by  the  conchtion  of  the  p(nv(ler  in  each  case.  The  Hquid  and 
dry  plaster  should  be  thoroughly  mixed  and  stirred  so  that  the 
liquid  will  be  uniformly  distributed  through  the  mass  of  plas- 
ter. W'iien  enough  jilastcr  has  been  added  the  resulting  mix- 
ture shouKl  l)e  a  (hy.  pinkish  brown  powder  having  a  fairly 
strong  carbolic  odor  and  a  rather  less  pronounced  gasoline 
odor." 

"Do  not  use  more  plaster  in  mixing  than  is  necessary  to  blot 
up  the  liquid.  This  powder  is  to  be  worked  into  the  feathers 
of  the  birds  affected  with  vermin.  The  bulk  of  the  application 
.should  be  in  the  fluff  around  the  vent  and  on  the  ventral  side  of 
the  body  and  in  the  fluff  under  the  wings.  Its  efficiency,  which 
is  greater  tlian  that  of  any  other  lice  powder  known  to  the 
writer,  can  be  vcr}-  easily  demonstrated  by  anyone  to  his  own 
satisfaction.  Take  a  bird  that  is  covered  w'ith  lice  and  apply 
the  powder  in  the  manner  just  described.  After  a  lapse  of 
about  a  minute,  shake  the  bird,  loosening  its  feathers  with  the 
fingers  at  the  same  time,  over  a  clean  piece  of  paper.  Dead 
and  dying  lice  will  drop  on  the  paper  in  great  numbers.  Any- 
one who  will  try  this  experiment  will  have  no  further  doubt  of 
the  wonderful  efficiency  and  value  of  this  powder." 

Next  to  the  Lawry  pow'der  probably  pure  pyrethrum  or  Per- 
sian insect  pow^der  is  as  cheap  and  effective  as  anything  to  be 
had. 

A  time-honored  and  eft'ective  treatment  for  lice,  especially  for 
young  chicks,  is  greasing.  Tlic  grease  most  often  used  is  lard 
or  sometimes  lard  and  sulphur.  The  latter  should  not  be  used 
for  young  chicks.  The  lard  is  applied  with  the  finger  to  the 
head,  neck,  under  the  wings  and  around  the  vent.  Greasing  is 
a  somewhat  tedious  but  very  effective  treatment  for  lice,  espe- 
cially on  young  chicks,  since  lice  usually  attack  them  on  the  head 
and  neck. 

Prof.  W.  R.  Graham,  in  conversation  with  one  of  the  waiters, 
has  strongly  recommended  the  use  of  blue  ointment   {Ungucn-. 
turn  hydrargyri,  U.  S.  P.)  to  rid  birds  of  lice  in  cases  where 
individual  treatment  was  demanded. 

n.       M ITES — ACARI N  A. 

Eighteen  species  of  mites  are  parasitic  upon  fowls.  Only  4 
of  these  are  sufficiently  injurious  and  widely  distributed  to  be 


POULTRY    DlSIiASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 


133 


of  i,M-eat  cconiiinio  iniportaiicc.  Occasionally  one  or  another  of 
the  other  species  heconies  sufficiently  ahnndant  to  be  of  local 
importance.  The  mites  are  small  8-legged  animals  related  to 
the  si)iders.  Some  of  the  mites  parasitic  on  the  fowl  visit  their 
host  only  to  feed,  as  the  common  red  mite;  others  remain  on  the 
surface  of  tlu-  skin  or  on  tlie  feathers,  as  in  the  case  of  deplum- 
ing scabies.  Others  live  under  the  skin,  causing  deep-seated 
skin  diseases  like  scaly  leg;  still  others  find  their  way  into  the 
internal  regions  of  the  l:)ody,  living  either  on  mucous  membranes 
like  the  air  sac  mite  (p.  no)  or  upon  the  connective  tissue  like 
the  connecti\'e  tissue  mite. 


/r 


Fig.  28.  The  common  "red  mite"  of  poultry,  Dcvmany- 
ssus  gallinac,  a,  adult,  d  and  e,  young.  (After 
Osborn). 

The  most  common  and  mo.sl  injurious  mite  j)arasitic  on  fowls 
is  the  common  fowl  mite  or  red  mite,  Dermanyssus  gallina:. 
The.se  mites  are  ])resent  in  almost  every  poultry  house  that  is  not 
kept  very  clean.  When  they  are  present  in  large  numbers  they 
arc  a  seri(-)Us  pe^t.  Tlu'^  mite  is  a  little  more  than  '  j  millimeter 
long.  'I'Ik'  female  is  a  little  larger  than  ilic  male.  When  empty 
Ihey  are  gray  with  dark  .spots,  hut  usually  they  appear  some 
shade  from  yellow  to  dark  red  according  to  the  amount  of  fowl's 
blood  they  contain.  They  visit  the  fowls  only  to  feed  and  spend 
the  rest  ot  the  time  on  tlic  under  sides  of  the  roosts,  in  cracks 
and  crevices,  under  collections  of  droppings  or  other  filth  and 
in  the  nesting  material,  especially  if  .'^uch  material  is  dirty  straw. 
The  mites  breed  in  these  places.  They  reproduce  very  rapidly, 
especiall}-   in   spring  and   smnmer.     The  eggs  are  laid  in  con- 


134  I'OUUKV    DISK  ASKS    AND    TIIKIK    TRKATMENT. 

cc-alcd  places,  usually  in  cracks  containing;  filth  or  in  dirty  nest- 
ing material.  The  young  mites  are  white  and  have  only  6  legs. 
Their  first  food  is  prohahly  filth  or  decayed  wood.  They  moult 
several  times  and  their  cast  skins  are  often  seen  as  a  white 
powder  on  the  perches.  After  the  first  moult  the  larvae  have 
8  legs.  The  mites  are  ahle  to  live  and  reproduce  for  months  at 
least  without  animal  food,  but  when  they  are  associated  with 
fowls  the  older  larva;  and  adults  depend  upon  the  blood  of  the 
fowls  for  food.  They  usually  attack  the  birds  at  night  but 
sometimes  are  found  feeding  on  laying  or  brooding  hens  during 
the  day.  They  pierce  the  skin  with  their  needle-like  jaws  and 
suck  the  blood.  The  irritation  due  to  the  biting  of  a  number 
of  these  creatures  disturbs  the  rest  of  the  l)ird  and  the  loss  of 
blood  may  be  considerable.  The  mites  thrive  best  in  dark, 
damp,  dirty  houses  and  may  be  found  in  such  houses  for  months 
after  all  fowls  have  been  removed.  They  will  bite  man  or  other 
mammals,  causing  severe  irritation,  but  do  not  remain  on  strange 
hosts  for  anA'  length  of  time.  Fowls  should  not  be  allowed  to 
roost  in  sheds  with  other  animals,  as  the  sheds  may  become 
infested  with  the  mites  which  will  disturb  the  other  animals  as 
well  as  the  fowls. 

Diagnosis. — If  the  birds  are  not  doing  well,  especially  if  they 
appear  emaciated  and  dejected,  they  should  be  examined  at 
night  for  mites.  In  the  day  time  the  ends  and  under  sides  of 
the  roosts  and  the  cracks  in  them  should  be  examined.  Num- 
bers of  the  mites  are  often  found  by  prying  up  a  loose  cleat  or 
splitting  off  a  wide  loose  sliver.  They  may  often  be  found  in 
old  straw  nests. 

Treatment. — Clean,  dry,  well  ventilated  houses  which  get 
plenty  of  sunlight  are  seldom  badly  infested.  The  first  step  in 
eradicating  or  controlling  the  pest  is  thoroughly  to  clean  the 
houses.  Remove  the  droppings  and  all  the  old  nesting  material. 
Clean  and  when  possible  scrub  or  wash  witli  a  stream  from  the 
hose  all  the  perches,  nests,  floors  and  walls.  Spray  or  paint  the 
perches,  nests,  walls  and  floors  wath  a  5  per  cent  solution  of 
cresol  (see  Chap.  II  for  directions  for  making  this).  Prof.  H, 
C.  Pierce  has  tested  various  remedies  for  mites  and  finds  none 
so  effective  as  this-  Use  plenty  of  solution  and  make  the  spray- 
mg  thorough.     Everv  crack  and  crevice  should  be  flooded. 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND    TITETR    TREATMENT.  I35 

Another  spray  successfully  used  is:  3  parts  kerosene  and  i 
part  crude  carbolic  acid.  Still  a  third,  kerosene  emulsion  is 
recommended  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 
Their  method  of  making  this  spray  as  given  in  Circular  No.  92  is 
as  follows :  "To  make  this,  shave  >^  pound  of  hard  soap  into  i 
gallon  of  soft  water  and  boil  the  mixture  until  the  soap  is  dis- 
solved. Then  remove  it  to  a  safe  distance  from  the  fire  and 
stir  into  it  at  once,  while  still  hot,  2  gallons  of  kerosene  or  coal 
oil.  The  result  is  a  thick,  creamy  emulsion.  Dilute  this  stock 
mixture  with  10  parts  of  soft  water,  and  apply  as  a  spray  or 
with  a  brush,  being  careful  to  work  it  into  all  cracks,  crevices, 
and  joints  of  the  building." 

With  any  of  these  sprays  it  is  necessary  to  make  two  or  more 
applications  at  intervals  of  a  few  days  to  destroy  the  mites 
which  hatch  after  the  first  application.  The  liquid  may  be  put 
on  with  a  hand  spray  pump  or  with  a  brush.  Cleanliness,  fresh 
air  and  sunlight  are  cheap  and  effective  preventatives. 

Scaly   Leg. 

A  minute  mite,  Knemidocoptcs  (Dcrmatoryctcs)  (Sarcoptcs) 
mutans,  is  the  cause  of  a  contagious  disease  afifecting  the  legs 
of  fowls,  turkeys,  pheasants,  partridges  and  cage  birds.  Ac- 
cording to  some  authorities  it  sometimes  affects  the  comb  and 
beak  also.  The  mites  excavate  places  under  the  skin  where  they 
live  and  breed.  The  most  thorough  study  yet  made  of  this  para- 
site and  its  effect  on  birds  is  that  of  Haiduk.* 

Diagnosis. — This  very  common  disease  is  easily  recognized  by 
the  enlarged  roughened  appearance  it  gives  the  foot  and  shank. 
This  appearance  is  shown  in  fig.  29,  with  a  normal  leg  for  com- 
parison. 

The  disease  is  present  in  most  flocks  unless  especial  care  has 
been  taken  to  exclude  it.  It  is  slightly  contagious,  but  usually 
Only  a  few  birds  in  a  flock  appear  to  be  infected.  The  scales 
on  the  foot  and  leg  of  an  affected  1)ir(l  are  raised  by  a  crusty 
substance  ..cposited  beneath  them.  Tiie  lesions  usually  appear 
first  neui  the  joints  between  the  toes  and  foot.  The  parts  affect- 
ed first  appear  to  be  enlarged  and  then  the  scales  are  raised, 
giving  the  roughened  appearance  shown  in  r>  fig.  29.     In  early 


*Hai(luk,    T.    Die    Fussraiider    des    Gefliigels.     Inaug.    Diss.    Giessen, 
1909,   pp.   1-58,   Taf.    I-VI. 


136 


POl'I.TRV    DISK-VSES    ANH     llll'IK     I'KIIAT  M  i:n  T. 


Kig.  29.     A.     Xtinnal  leg  of  hen.     B.     Leg  of  hen  affected  with 
scaly    leg.     (Alter    Megnin). 


I'ori.Tin'  1)isi:asi".s  and  tiii'Ik  Tki'.ATM  mnt.  137 


Fig.  30.     Pli()to;4rapli  of  ihv  lo.n  of  a  lu'ii  affected  witli  scaly  leg. 

(.\fler    Ilai(luk). 


I^X  I'dfl.TKV    niSIvASES    ANM)    TIll'lK    TRKATMENT. 

Stages  the  disease  does  not  appear  to  disturb  the  general  health 
of  the  fowl.  As  it  progresses  the  l)irds  become  lame  and  some- 
times the  loot  becomes  so  badly  diseased  that  joints  or  even 
whole  toes  drop  ofif.  The  photogra])!)  of  a  badly  affected  leg 
is  shown  in  fig.  30.     The  two  legs  are  usually  affected  equally. 


/ 


r 


\ 


t  ^ 
I  , 


y 


Xfi.'vjf- 


w 


Fig.  31.     Photograph  of  the  adult  female  of  the  mite  Knemidocoptcs 
(Derundoryclcs )   iinilaiis.      (After  Haiduk). 


Etiology. — The  disease  is  caused  !)>•  the  minute  parasitic  mite 
Knemidocoptcs  vutians   ffigs.  31   and  32). 


POl'LTKV    DISEASES    AND    Til  KIR    TREAT.MEMT. 


139 


-y 


>^. 


v> 


/ 


f 


Fig.  32.     Photograph  of  the  six-legged  larva, of  Kneinidocoptes 
(Dcrmatoryctes)    inutans.     (After  Haiduk). 

The  mites  bore  under  the  scales  of  the  foot  and  leg  and  btir- 
row  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  tissue.  They  set  up  an  irritation 
which  leads  to  multiplication  of  cells  and  the  exudation  of  serum. 
This  accumulation  forms  crusty  deposits  beneath  the  scales. 
These  crusts  contain  many  depressions  in  which  are  imbedded 
female  mites  containing  eggs.  The  larvre  and  the  males  are 
usually  found  beneath  the  crusts.  The  relations  just  described 
are  shown  in  fig.  33,  which  is  a  picture  of  a  section  of  the  skin 
of  a  "scaly"  leg. 


140 


rdll.TKV    DISKASlvS    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 


(    .^ 


^r^-- 


f'i»-  3i-     Section    of    the    skin    of   the    leg    of    a    fowl    affected    with 
scaly  leg. 

a.  Papilla  witli  pigment  cells. 

b.  Lj'niphatic    tissue    in    the    papilla. 

c.  Epidermis:    stratum    profunduni. 

d.  Epidermis :    .stratum   corneum. 

e.  Section  through  a  mite. 

e.  Section  througli  a  mite  showing  head  and  2  pairs  of  legs. 

f.  Young  mite. 

g.  Cavity  excavated  by  mites. 
h.  Excrement  of  mite. 

i.  Horny   layer  lietwccn   the   mite   excavations. 
(From  Haiduk,  after  Olt). 


I'ori.rin-  Disi-ASivS  AND  Tiii;iK  tki;atmkn'j\  141 

As  the  disease  progresses  the  mites  which  are  becoming  con- 
stantly more  numerous  penetrate  very  deep  into  the  tissues, 
causing  lameness  and  sometimes  the  loss  of  some  of  the  toes. 

The  infection  from  bird  to  bird  ])rol)ably  takes  place  on  the 
roosts  or  from  mother  to  chick.  Robinson  believes  that  the 
birds  most  likely  to  be  infected  are  those  with  a  deficient  supply 
of  oil  in  the  .skin.  The  conditions  which  favor  its  spread  in  a 
flock  are  dry,  barren  runs,  especially  on  alkaline  soils  or  in  yards 
filled  with  ashes  or  cinders.  Foul  roosting  places  also  favor  the 
spread  of  the  di.sease.  The  disease  is  easily  cured  and  it  is 
worth  the  trouble  of  any  poultryman  to  cure  all  the  affected 
birds  and  to  examine  any  birds  purchased  that  infected  ones 
may  be  treated  before  they  are  introduced  into  the  flock. 

Treatment. — Individual  treatment  is  necessary  to  cure  the  dis- 
ea.se.  This  treatment  consi.sts  in  the  application  of  some  pene- 
trating oil  to  the  diseased  parts.  A  large  number  of  oils  and 
ointments  have  been  used  successfully.  If  the  case  is  not  far  ad- 
vanced and  if  there  is  no  especial  hurry  about  bringing  about  the 
cure  the  application  of  the  oils  or  ointments  at  intervals  of  2  or 
3  days  will  .soon  do  the  work.  If  the  birds  must  be  cured  quickly 
Tor  show  or  sale  purposes  the  cure  is  hastened  by  removing  the 
scales  and  crusts  before  applying  the  medicine.  This  may  be 
done  by  brushing  with  a  stiff  toothbrush  before  each  treatment. 
Or  the  feet  may  be  soaked  for  a  few  moments  in  warm  soapy 
water  and  then  l)rushed.  When  the  disease  is  far  advanced  it 
is  best  to  begin  the  treatment  by  the  removal  of  the  scales. 

Haiduk's  experiments  show  that  one  of  the  very  best  cures 
for  scaly  leg  is  oil  of  carazuay.  This  is  best  applied  in  an  oint- 
ment made  of  i  part  of  oil  of  carazvay  to  5  parts  of  white  vase- 
line. Oil  of  caraway  is  very  penetrating  and  is  not  nearly  as 
irritating  as  some  of  the  treatments  more  usually  advised.  This 
ointment  should  be  rubbed  into  the  leg  and  foot  every  few  days 
until  signs  of  the  disease  disappear. 

Hill  recommends  daily  application  of  an  ointment  made  of 
equal  parts  of  vaseline  and  zinc  ointment,  or  in  severe  cases  of 
one  made  of  \  ounce  of  sulphur,  ]/>  ounce  of  oxide  of  zinc,  i 
dram  of  oil  of  tar  and  2  ounces  of  whale  oil  mixed  together. 

Tlicre  are  two  common  remedies  used  successfully  by  poultry- 
men.  These  are  irritating  and  should  be  used  with  some  cau- 
tion. They  have  the  advantage  of  being  quickly  applied.  The 
best  of  these  is  probably  a  mixture  of  i  part  of  coal  oil  or  kero- 


142 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 


scne  and  2  parts  of  raw  linseed  oil.  If  a  quick  cure  is  impera- 
tive a  half-and-half  mixture  may  be  used.  Robinson  in  Farm 
Poultry,  May,  1907,  recommends  a  quick  and  easy  method  of 
applying  this.  It  is  to  take  a  tall  quart  measure  of  the  liquid  to 
the  hen  house  at  night  and  dip  both  legs  of  each  infected  bird 
into  the  measure  of  oil,  holding  them  there  for  a  moment  and 
then  allowing  them  to  drip  for  a  moment  more  and  then  re- 
placing the  hen  on  the  roost.  With  any  treatment  which  in- 
volves the  use  of  kerosene  care  must  be  taken  not  to  wet  the 
feathers  of  the  leg,  as  this  causes  irritation  and  sometimes  burns 
the  skin  much  as  the  human  skin  is  burned  when  it  is  rubbed 
with  kerosene  and  covered  with  flannel. 

A  second  method  of  applying  kerosene  is  to  put  a  teaspoon ful 
of  the  oil  in  a  quart  measure  of  w^ater  and  treat  the  birds  by 
the  method  given  above  The  same  care  should  be  taken  not  to 
wet  the  feathers. 

The  advantage  of  these  treatments  is  their  easy  and  rapid 
application  to  a  number  of  birds. 

Depluming  Scabies. 
The  mite  Sar copies  Iccvis  var.  gallince  (fig.  34)  is  the  cause 


m^^"  -^ 


K 


Fig.    34.     Egg    containing    female    Sarcoptes 
Jacvis     var.     gall'mac.     (After       Theobald). 

of  a  kind  of  scabies  in  fowls  which  causes  the  feathers  to  break 
ofif  at  the  surface  of  the  skin. 

Symptoms. — This  disease  usually  appears  in  spring  and  sum- 
mer and   is   characterized  by  the   dropping  off  of   patches  of 


I'OULTRV   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  I43 

feathers  on  different  parts  of  the  body.  It  usually  begins  at  the 
rump  and  spreads  to  the  head  and  neck,  back,  thighs  and  breast. 
The  large  wing  and  tail  feathers  are  not  usually  lost.  The  ex- 
posed skin  is  normal  in  appearance.  Around  the  stumps  of  the 
lost  feathers  and  at  the  end  of  the  quills  of  feathers  near  the 
bare  spots  are  masses  of  epidermal  scales.  On  microscopic 
examination  these  scales  are  found  to  be  composed  of  numerous 
mites  and  their  debris.  The  irritation  of  the  mites  often  causes 
the  birds  to  pull  their  own  feathers.  Birds  affected  often  pull 
each  others'  feathers.  Some  of  the  so-called  feather  eating  is 
due  to  the  presence  of  this  parasite,  but  fowls  sometimes  pull 
each  others'  feathers  when  the  parasite  is  not  present.  Salmon 
says  this  disease  does  not  affect  the  general  health  of  the  bird 
and  does  not  appear  to  disturb  gain  in  flesh  or  egg  production, 
but  Theobald  says  that  the  disease  checks  egg  laying  in  hens 
and  affected  cocks  become  emaciated  and  sometimes  die. 

Etiology. — The  mite  Sarcoptcs  Iccvis  which  causes  this  disease 
is  smaller  than  the  one  which  causes  scaly  leg.  They  live  at  the 
base  of  the  feathers  in  the  epidermal  debris  referred  to  above. 
A  flock  becomes  infected  by  the  introduction  of  one  or  more 
birds  carrying  the  mites.  The  mites  are  spread  from  bird  to 
bird  by  the  male  in  copulation.  The  distribution  is  often  very 
rapid  so  that  the  whole  flock  is  soon  affected. 

Treatment. — The  disease  should  be  prevented  by  taking  care 
not  to  introduce  infested  birds.  If  it  appears  all  affected  birds 
should  at  once  be  isolated.  The  mites  yield  easily  to  treatment. 
The  infested  areas  may  be  rubbed  with  some  of  the  less  irri- 
tating ointments  recommended  for  scaly  legs  (see  p.  141)- 

The  following  list  gives  some  ointments  in  the  order  of  their 
desirability  for  use  on  the  body. 

Oil  of  caraway  ointment  (i  to  5). 

Balsam  of  Peru. 

Creolin  treatment  (i  to  10). 

Helmerich's  ointment. 
Salmon  gives  a  modification  of  the  latter  ointment  which  he 
considers  an  improvement  for  use  in  depluming  scabies. 

Flowers  of  sulphur,  i  dram, 

Carbonate  of  potash,  20  grains, 

Lard  of  vaseline,  J4  ounce. 
Scabies  may  also  be  cured  by  liquid  applications.     The  two 
following  preparations  are  recommended  by  Salmon :    A  solu- 


144 


l•(»^I.^K^    1)ISi:asi-;s  ami   riii:iK  tkkatment. 


•JS 


tion  of  balsam  ol'  I'ciu  in  alcoht)!  (  i  ])art  dI  halsani  lo  3  of  alco- 
hol) ur  I  (Irani  of  crroHii.  J  ouiict's  of  glycerine,  J-j  ounce  of 
alcohol  anil  '  _.  ounce  of  water.  Either  of  these  liquids  are 
applied  bv  rnbl)inj(  into  the  skin.  'Phe  application  shoidd  be 
repeated  every  4  or  3  days  until  llu   disease  is  cured. 

Other  Mitrs  Affcctimj  I'oultry. 

Another  form  of  Body  Mange  or  .scabies  is  found  associated 
with  the  mites  Hpidcrmoptcs  bilobatiis  and  Hpidcnnoptcs  hifiir- 
catiis,  but  it  has  not  Ijeen  certainly  tlemonstratcd  that  they  are 
the  cause  of  the  disease.  Present  evidence  iuflicates  tliat  they 
are. 

The  disease  closely  resembles  favus  (p.  147)  but  usually  does 
not  affect  the  head.  The  regions  commonly  attacked  are  the 
neck,  breast,  the  wings  and  the  body  under  the  wings.  It  some- 
times affects  the  entire  body,  including  the  head.  The  skin  be- 
comes irritated  and  shows  an  accumulation  of 
scales  or  crusts  especially  at  the  base  of  the 
feathers. 

The  mites  live  on  the  skin  at  the  base  of  the 
featliers.  Since  the  mites  are  sometimes  found 
on  birds  which  show-  no  signs  of  scabies  and  since 
the  di.'^ease  so  closely  resembles  favus,  which  is 
known  to  be  caused  by  a  fungus,  it  is  .sometimes 
supposed  that  this  mange  is  al.so  due  to  a  fungus 
and  that  the  mites  are  inoffensive. 

Five  .species  of  mites  have  been  recorded 
which  live  upon  the  feathers  of  fowls.  These 
are  fairlv  abundant  but  do  no  harm. 

Two  mites  live  within  the  body  of  fowls.  One 
of  these,  the  air  sac  mite,  is  described  elsewhere 
(p.  1 10) .  The  other  the  connective  tissue  mite, 
ticola.  Con- Syniplcctopfcs  cysticola.  is  found  in  the  con- 
nective tissue  iiective  tissue  of  the  fowls.  They  produce  local 
mite,    (''^"er  j;,.j.;^^j.jj^j.|j,  giving  rise  to  tubercles  but  apparently 

do  not  affect  the  health  of  the  bird. 
The  larvae  of  the  so-called  "harvest-bug"  (which  is  not  a  bug 
at  all)  Tctranychus  (Thrombidinm)  (Leptns)  antumnalis  some- 
times attacks  poultry.     The  appearance  of  this  mite  is  shown  in 


\ 

Fig-    i>   -'^'yip 
tectoptcs   c  y  s 


fig- 


36. 


port, TRY   DISEASES    AND    TIIi;iR    TREATMENT. 


M5 


This  small  brick   red  mite,   rarely  visible 
to  the  naked  eye.  is  bred  upon  berry  and 
currant   bushes,   vegetables   and   grain,   but 
when    o])])<Mtunity    offers    it    bites    almost 
anv  animal,  often  attacking  man.     It  some- 
times causes  considerable  mortality  among 
late    hatched    chickens    which    frequent    its 
breeding     places.      The     parasites     fasten 
^  /^^  ^ ','' themselves    so    firmly   by    their    claws    and 
{Lepius)      autumn-  P^lpi    that    they    can    only   be   detached    by 
alls,     larval     iorm.  force.       They     produce     intense     irritation 
(After    Murray),  xvhich    often    leads    to    epileptiform    symp- 
toms and  death  follows  in  a  few  days. 
Theobald  suggests  dusting  flowers  of  sulphur  among  the  feath- 
ers when  the  parasites  are  present.     Probably  the  Lawry  lice 
powder    (p.    130)    would  be  more  effective.     When  these  par- 
asites  are   abundant   chickens   should   be   kept   away   from   the 
places  where  the  mites  breed. 


Fig.  36. 
bug," 


Other  External  Parasites. 

The  dove  cot  hug  or  "bed-bug"  of  poultrymen,  found  in  jMg- 
eon  lofts,  sometimes  invades  neighboring  hen  roosts.  It  prob- 
ably sometimes  attacks  fowls.  It  resembles  closely  the  bed  bug 
found  in  dwelling  houses  and  like  this  pest  is  hard  to  extermi- 
nate as  it  can  live  almost  indefinitely  on  dead  organic  matter. 
This  tick  hides  in  cracks  during  the  day  and  attacks  its  host 
only  at  night.  Persistent  repetition  of  the  sprays  recommended 
for  hen  roosts  infected  with  red  mites  (p.  134)  will  destroy 
these  parasites. 

Leaflet  No.  57  of  the  English  Board  of  Agriculture  gives  the 
following  brief  account  of  the  hen  flea,  Pulex  gallinae  for 
avium) : 

"The  lleas,  which  are  true  insects,  belong  to  the  order  of 
flies  (Diptera).  They  feed  upon  the  blood.  One  species  only 
lives  upon  the  fowl,  namely  the  l)ir<l  flea  (Pulex  gallinae  or 
aviuyn)  which  attacks  also  mo.st  c:>ther  birds.  The  hen  flea,  as 
it  is  generally  called,  is  abundant  in  dirty  fowl  runs,  and  es])e- 
cially  in  the  nests  where  straw  is  used.  The  adult  flea  is  dark 
in  ci^lour.  and.  as  in  all  fleas,  is  devcMd  of  wings.  The  fleas 
are  provided  w  ith  verv  -liarp  piercing  mouths.     They  are  what 


10 


146  I'OL'I/rRY   DISICASES   AND    THEIR   TREATMENT, 

arc  terined  'partial  parasites' — parasites  that  only  go  to  their 
hosts  to  feed.  The  fleas  are  not  noticed  on  the  birds  because 
they  generally  attack  them  at  night;  then,  however,  they  do 
much  harm,  causing  constant  irritatimi  and  loss  of  blood,  and 
depriving  them  of  rest." 

"Life-history  of  Hen  Flea. — The  female  flea  lays  her  eggs 
(nits)  chiefly  in  the  nests  amongst  dust  and  dirt  and  in  the 
crevices  of  the  walls  and  floor.  These  nits  give  rise  to  pearly 
white  maggots,  with  brown  horny  heads,  which  can  often  be 
found  in  the  bottom  of  the  nests  amongst  the  dust.  These  larvae 
are  mature  in  2  or  3  weeks,  then  they  reach  about  1-6  of  an 
inch  in  length.  In  warm  weather  they  may  be  full  fed  in 
even  10  days.  They  then  spin  a  pale  cocoon  amongst  the  dirt, 
in  which  they  pupate.  The  pupa  is  at  first  pale  brown,  then 
dark  chestnut  brown.  In  this  condition  the  flea  remains  10  to 
21  days,  when  the  pupa  hatches  into  the  adult.  They  breed 
all  the  year  round,  but  chiefly  in  warm  weather.  It  is  well  to 
remember  that,  whenever  there  are  dark  and  dirty  hen  roosts, 
there  are  sure  to  be  a  number  of  Pulex  gallinac." 

Treatment.  These  parasites  do  not  usually  occur  under  sani- 
tary housing  conditions.  When  they  occur  the  houses  should 
be  cleaned  and  sprayed  as  for  red  mites  (p-  134).  Theobald 
recommends  the  use  of  excelsior  or  shavings  instead  of  straw 
for  nesting  material  as  the  fleas  do  not  breed  as  readilv  in  this 
material. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


Diseases  oe  the  Skin. 

Faviis    {Baldness   or    White   Comb). 

Tliis  disease  of  the  skin  attacks  poultry  as  well  as  man  and 
the  domestic  mammalia.     In  mammals  it  is  called  tinea  favosa  or 

favus. 

Diagnosis.     The  disease  usually  appears  first  as  small  gray 
white  spots  on  the  comb,  wattles,  eye  lids  and  around  the  ears, 
that  is,  on  the  unfeathered  parts  of  the  head.     The  spots  enlarge 
and  run  together  forming  a  scaly  crust  which  becomes  thicker 
until  in  3  or  4  weeks  it  may  be  as  much  as  8  millimeters  (1-3 
inch)    thick.     The  scales  which  make  up  the  crust  are  often 
formed  in  concentric  rings,  the  margins  raised  and  the  centers 
depressed,  so  that  the  scale  is  somewhat  cup  shaped.     When  the 
crust  is  removed  the  skin  appears  irritated  and  in  places  the  sur- 
face is  somewhat  raw.     The  disease  spreads  to  the  feathered 
parts  of  the  head,  the  neck,  and  the  region  around  the  vent. 
The  base  of  the  feathers  becomes 
surrounded  by  concentric  rings  of 
the    scaly   material.      The    feathers 
become  dry,  erect,  and  brittle  and 
finally  break  ofif  or  fall  out  leaving 
a  disc-shaped  scale  with  a  depres- 
sion at  the  bottom  where  the  base 
of   the    feather   was   located.     The 
bird's  head   and  neck  and  patches 
around    the   vent   become   bare   of 
feathers.    The  exposed  skin  is  cov- 
ered   with    the    cup-shaped    scales. 
Sometimes  the  disease  spreads  over 
the  whole  body  until  the  bird  be- 
comes nearly  naked.     The  diseased 
bird    has    a    peculiar    disagreeable 
odor,  sometimes  likened  to  the  odor 
of    a    musty    grain    or    to    mouldy 


■If 

Ficr. 


yj.     Head   and   neck   of 
a    fowl    affected    with    gen- 
eralized   favus.     (After 
Pearson). 


mS 


I'ori.TKV    DISICASKS    AND    Tlll-IK    TKKAT.M  KNT. 


cheese  and  sometimes  to  cat's  urine  or  to  maccratinj^  animal  ma- 
terial. In  early  sta.s^cs  the  j^cneral  health  does  not  appear  to  be 
affected  but  as  the  disease  advances  the  bird  loses  its  appetite, 
becomes  poor  and  exhausted,  and  finally  dies. 

litioltujx.     The    disease    is   caused    by    the    fungus   Achorion 
sclionlcini' 


Fig.  38.  Tlie  fungus  .Ichorion  sclion- 
Icinii  wliich  causes  favus  in  poultry, 
tv. — Empty  tubes  of  mycelium, 
tp. — Tubes  of  the  mycelium  con- 
taining   protoplasm    and    spores. 

This  fungus  is  found  in  the  cup  like  scales  on  the  skin  and  in 
the  quills  of  the  feathers  of  the  diseased  parts.  If  the  favic  cups 
or  scales  are  moistened  with  weak  acetic  acid  and  examined  un- 
der the  microscope  it  will  be  seen  that  they  are  formed  of 
branching,  thread-like  mycelial  tubes  of  the  fungus  closely 
interwoven  with  one  another,  spores  of  the  fungus,  and  epithelial 
scales  from  the  skin  of  the  host  imbedded  in  a  viscid  substance 
secreted  by  the  fungus.  Some  of  the  tubes  of  the  mycelium 
contain  spores.  Many  of  the  spores  are  found  free  among  the 
filaments.     They   are   usually   found   in   groups  of   3,   4  or  8. 

Both  the  mycelium  and  spores  of  the  fungus  are  found  in  the 
quills  of  tlie  feathers  of  the  diseased  parts.  The  fungus  some- 
times penetrates  even  the  barbs  of  the  feathers. 

Favus  is  a  contagious  disease  and  gets  into  a  flock  by  the  in- 


]>()ri.TKV    DISKASKS    AND    TIIi:iK     IKl-.AT  M  F.NT.  T49 

troduction  of  an  affected  bird.  It  is  less  likely  t(«  attack  strong, 
vigorous  birds  than  those  in  poor  condition,  it  usually  starts 
at  a  point  where  the  skin  is  broken.  Young  birds  are  more  sus- 
ceptible than  old  ones.  The  large  Asiatic  breeds  are  specially 
liable  to  take  the  disease.     No  breed  is  entirely  immune. 

Megnin  and  some  other  authors  consider  this  disease  distinct 
from  the  favus  of  man  and  other  animals,  but  numerous  record- 
ed t)bservations  indicate  that  it  is  the  same  disease  and  may  be 
comuuuiicated  t(-)  man.  In  handling  affected  birds,  therefore, 
care  should  be  exercised  to  prevent  infection  of  cuts  or  scratches. 

Treatment.  Diseased  birds  should  not  be  introduced  into  a 
flock.  Tf  the  disease  has  been  accidentally  introduced  the  affect- 
ed birds  should  be  isolated  as  soon  as  possible.  The  flocks 
should  be  watched  in  order  to  discover  and  isolate  any  new  cases 
that  appear. 

In  early  stages  the  disease  yields  readily  to  treatment.  Ziirn 
considers  treatment  economically  advisable  only  before  the  feath- 
ered parts  of  the  body  are  attacked.  The  disease  may  sometimes 
be  cured  at  a  later  stage.  The  value  of  the  affected  bird  must 
determine  whether  or  not  it  is  worth  treating. 

As  much  of  the  crust  as  possible  should  be  removed.  This 
is  best  done  by  first  softening  the  scabs  with  warm  water  or 
with  oil  or  glycerine.  Robinson  recommends  scraping  with 
the  back  of  a  knife  or  a  spoon  handle.  The  ])arts  should  then 
be  painted  with  tincture  of  iodine  or  should  be  bathed  with 
corrosive  sublimate  solution,  i  part  of  the  sublimate  to  looo 
parts  of  water,  and  then  rubbing  witli  the  ointment  described 
on  p.  30.  In  using  the  corrosive  sublimate  solution  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  solution  which  unless  colored 
with  some  dye  looks  exactly  like  water  is  extremely  poisonous 
to  men  and  animals  when  taken  internally.  Dishes  or  bottles 
of  corrosive  sublimate  should  never  be  left  where  they  can  be 
accidentally  mistaken  for  water. 

Lard  and  sulphur  are  often  used  successfully  in  the  treatment 
of  favus.  Use  nearly  as  much  sulphur  as  lard  and  work  them 
into  a  smooth  salve.  In  early  stages  the  disease  usually  yields 
to  application  of  lard  or  oil  alone. 

Prognosis.  In  early  stages  the  favus  may  be  cured  at  the 
expense  of  a  small  amount  of  attention.  After  the  feathered 
parts  become  affected  a  cure  requires  considerable  labor  as  the 
fungus  is  better  j^rotected  from  the  applications. 


150  I'OII.TRY    niSKASES    AxND    TMKIK    TKKAT.M  KNT. 

White  Comb. 

This  name  is  often  used  for  faviis,  but  some  authorities  (e.  g., 
\'ale)  use  it  to  designate  a  condition  of  the  comb  character- 
ized by  a  white  powdery  scurf  of  the  surface.  The  comb  is 
Hght  colored  and  the  white  scales  or  flakes  are  particles  detached 
from  the  epidermis.  This  condition  is  thought  to  be  due  to 
anemia.  Wris^ht  says  that  it  "appears  generally  due  to  dirt,  or 
overcrowding  in  small  space,  or  want  of  green  food."  The 
only  treatment  advised  is  to  place  the  birds  under  sanitary  con- 
ditions and  give  them  a  good  balanced  ration. 

Chicken  Pox  (Sore  Head  or  Epithelioma  Contagiosum). 

This  contagious  disease  of  poultry,  although  widely  distrib- 
uted in  the  northern  states,  is  less  common  and  serious  here 
than  in  the  Gulf  States  and  Hawaiian  Islands.  It  is  impossible 
al  present  to  decide  whether  this  is  a  distinct  disease  or  a  form 
of  roup  which  affects  the  skin  of  the  head.  This  can  only  be 
determined  when  further  investigations  have  revealed  the  real 
cause  of  these  diseases. 

Diagnosis.  The  disease  usually  appears  as  warty  nodules  on 
the  un feathered  parts  of  the  head.  They  look  like  the  tumors 
in  the  nasal  passages  and  eye  sockets  of  birds  affected  with 
roup. 

Freidberger  and  Frohner*  give  a  good  description  of  these 
nodules  on  the  skin  of  the  head,  as  follows: 

"Their  favorite  seats  are  those  parts  of  the  head  that  are  not 
covered  with  feathers;  root  of  the  beak,  neighborhood  of  the 
nostrils,  angles  of  the  mouth,  lobes  of  the  ear,  parts  adjacent  to 
the  auditory  meatus,  wattles,  surface  of  the  face,  edges  of  the 
eye-lids,  intermaxillary  space,  and  especially  the  com!).  They 
sometimes  spread  over  the  feathered  parts  of  the  head,  throat* 
and  neck,  and  may  occur  on  the  outer  surface  of  the  thighs, 
abdomen,  under  the  wings  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cloaca. 
At  first  these  cpitheliomata  appear  in  the  skin,  as  flat  nodules, 
which  soon  become  prominent,  and  which  vary  in  size  from  a 
poppy  seed  to  a  millet  seed.  Later  on,  they  usually  attain  the 
size  of  a  hemp  seed.  They  are  of  a  reddish-gray  or  yellowish- 
gray  color,  often  show  distinctly  in  their  earlier  stages  of  devel- 
opment a  peculiar  greasy,  nacreous  lustre ;  and  are  rather  firm 


*Freidberger    and    Frohner.     Veterinary    Pathology    (Vol.    I.     Hayes 
transO-     Quoted  from  Cary. 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 


151 


to  the  touch.  'I'hcir  surface  soon  becomes  covered  with  a  (Hrty- 
gray,  yellowish-brown  or  red-brown  crust.  They  are  discrete 
and  disseminated  in  considerable  numbers  on   the  erectile  tis- 


,v.^«i- 


?sr' 


Fig.   39.     Sore-head   crusts  on   comb,   eye-lids    and    skia 
(After  Gary). 

sues.  etc.  They  vary  in  size  according  to  their  age;  and  fre- 
quently lie  rather  close  to  one  another,  so  that  the  affected  parts 
look  as  if  coarsely  granulated ;  or  they  are  crow  ded  together 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  large  warts  with 
divisions  through  them,  or  mulberry-like  hypertrophies.  Even 
single  nodules,  to  say  nothing  of  the  groups,  may  attain  the  size 
of  a  lentil,  pea,  cherry-stone,  broad  bean  or  larger  object.  The 
older  they  become  the  rougher,  and  more  covered  with  knobs 
will  be  their  incrusted  surface." 

"If  the  edges  of  the  eye-lids  be  affected  by  these  tumors,  the 
lids  will  become  nodular,  swollen  and  closed.  Tht-  conjunctiva 
in  this  case  also  suffers;  it  projects  outwards  because  catarrhally 
inflamed ;  assumes  a  yellowish  color  at  the  seat  of  eruption ;  and 
its  surface  becomes  covered  with  crusts.  Purulent  conjuncti- 
vitis may  appear  and  the  inflammation  may  spread  to  the  sclero- 
tic and  cornea,  with  keratitis  and  panophthalmia  as  the  result. 
If,  as  sometimes  happens  with  pigeons,  the  eruption  of  nodules 
extends  over  the  whole  of  the  skin  of  the  eye-lids  and  its  neigh- 
borhood, the  entire  eye  will  become  covered  with  mulberry-like 
proliferations  of  \arious  sizes." 


I^J  I'oii.iin'    DISIvASKS    AND    TlIi:iK    TKKAT  M  KNT. 

The-  prc'scncf  of  these  nodules  on  the  epithelium  of  the  lu;i<l 
is  often  (l)ut  apparently  not  always)  accompanied  with  cliar- 
acteristic  roup  lesions  of  the  nasal  cavities,  mouth  and  throat. 
As  lon«r  as  the  disease  is  confined  to  the  skin  of  the  head  the 
fjeneral  health  of  the  bird  does  not  seem  U>  l)e  affected.  Recov- 
ery mav  take  place  without  treatment  in  from  lO  to  20  days. 
The  nodules  in  such  cases  dry  up  and  fall  olf.  Usually,  how- 
ever, the  disease  is  not  self-limited,  but  advances.  The  eyes 
may  become  closed  so  that  the  l)irds  cannot  see  to  eat.  They  j^et 
poor  and  die  from  exhaustion.  When  the  mucous  membrane 
of  the  mouth  developes  diphtheritic  membranes  death  occurs 
earlier  than  in  other  forms. 

pJioloi!;y.  The  lesions  of  this  disease  resemble  the  lesions  of 
roup  and  many  of  the  same  micro-organisms  are  found  in  the 
two  cases.  The  organisms  isolated  from  tlie  lesions  of  sore- 
head include  several  bacteria,  a  coccidium,  a  yeast  and  several 
moulds.  The  coccidium,  one  of  tlie  moulds,  and  one  of  the 
bacteria  have  each  been  considered  tlie  cause  of  the  di.sease  by 
different  workers.  The  real  cause  of  the  disease  and  its  rela- 
tion to  roup  must  be  determined  by  further  investigations.  The 
following  discussion  of  the  etiology  of  sore-head  is  given  by 
Gary  (Chicken-Pox  or  Sore  Head  in  T^oultry.  Alabama  Agric. 
E.xpt.  Stat.  P.ulletin  136)  : 

"Tnuismissiou  and  Dissemination.  It  is  evidently  infec- 
tious; becau.se  the  disease  in  all  its  forms,  spreads  rather  rai)idl\- 
from  one  chicken  or  pigeon  to  another.  Ward,  Harrison  and 
others  have  transmitted,  in  some  cases  (|uite  readily  by  carrying 
small  amount  of  di.seased  material  (exudate  and  blood),  from  a 
.sore-head  chicken  to  healthy  chickens.  It  is  also  quite  certain 
that  chicken  pox  and  pigeon  pox  are  identical  or  one  and  the 
same  disease." 

"Mosquitoes,  gnat  flies,  chicken  mites  (ticks),  chicken  lice, 
chicken  foot  mites  {Sarcoptcs  miitans)  and  possibly  cock-roaches 
may  .sometimes  be  carriers  of  the  real  virus.  It  seems  quite  cer- 
tain that  mosquitoes  can  transmit  the  virus  from  water  or  some 
other  source,  under  certain  conditions.  Warm  and  wet  weather 
seem  to  increase  the  virulency  of  the  virus  and  favor  the  rapid 
transmission  of  the  disea.se.  It  is  not  impossible  that  ants  may 
have  a  role  to  i)lay  in  the  transmission  or  cause  of  .sore-head." 

"Pathological  Anatomy.  On  the  skin  the  small,  grea.sy-like 
nodules,  or  hypertrophied  nodules  of  the  skin,  contain  epithelial 


rori.Tin-  diskasks  and  tiiimr  tkkatmkxt.  153 

cells  that  have  in  them  'greasy'  refractive  bodies  that  stain  yel- 
low with  picro-carniine  and  the  nnclei  <>f  the  epithelial  cells  be- 
come 'reddish  brown"  in  color.  Ncarl)-  all  the  ei)ithelial  cells  in 
the  nodnlc  appear  larger  than  normal  and  contain  the  refractive 
bodies.  In  the  yonnger  epitlulial  cells  these  bodies  (young  coc- 
cidia)  are  relatively  small  and  occupy  ]/^  to  1-3  of  the  epithelial 
cavity.  In  the  older  or  outer  or  cast-ofY  epithelial  cells  these 
refractive  Ixxlies  are  said  by  Freidberger  and  Frohner  to  occupy 
the  entire  cavitie>  of  the  e])ithelial  cells.  The  invaded  or  in- 
fested epithelial  cells  are  unusually  larger  than  the  epidermal 
cells  of  the  healthy  neighboring  skin.  Among  the  cast-off  mass 
of  epithelial  cells  are  found  round  refractive  bodies  and  numer- 
ous nuclei  of  leucocytes  or  pus  cells.  The  subcutaneous  con- 
nective tissue  is  hyperaemic  (congested)  and  is  infiltrated  with 
cells  (leucocytes  and  nuclei  of  disintegrated  cells).  Possibly 
some  of  the  small  miclei-like  bodies  among  the  cells  in  the  sub- 
cutis  ma\-  represent  one  stage  in  the  development  of  coccidia. 
Alanv  observers  have,  also,  found  various  bacteria  in  the  nodule 
and  sul)cutis." 

"Tn  tlie  diphtheritic  membranes  on  the  mucous  surfaces  of  the 
mouth,  pharynx,  larynx  and  oesophagus,  the  epithelial  cells  are 
sometimes  invaded  by  refractive  bodies  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  epithelial  cells  of  the  skin  and  in  the  mass  of  diphtheritic 
exudate  and  cast-off  cells  on  the  mucous  surface  may  be  found 
the  well  formed  coccidia  *  *  *  *  p.^^^t  [\^^.  refractive 
bodies  are  not  found  in  the  epithelial  cells  of  mucous  exudates 
of  skin  nodules  in  every  case.  1  have  found  them  only  in  the 
early  development  of  the  nodule  and  the  diphtheritic  exudate, 
and  have  never  found  the  mature  coccidium  in  the  nodules  of 
the  skin." 

"When  the  exudate  on  the  mucous  surface  or  the  crust  of  the 
nodule  of  the  .skin  is  torn  off  the  raw  surface  bleeds  rather 
freelv  and  a  fresh  mount  of  this  blood  contains  a  short  oval 
bacillus,  numerous  round  bodies  usually  said  to  be  nuclei  of 
leucocytes ;  and  a  few  polynuclear  leucocytes.  Repeated  inocu- 
lations in  the  comb,  wattles,  skin  and  conjunctiva  and  oral  mu- 
cosa of  healthy  chickens  of  various  ages,  with  this  blood,  fre.sh 
from  under  a  nodule  or  a  diphtheritic  exudate,  has  failed  to 
produce  p(xsitive  infective  results.  1  have  also  tested  it  on 
pigeons   with   like   negative   results." 


154  POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

"The  exudates  on  the  mucous  nicmbrrmc  of  the  throat,  mouth 
or  larynx  ajij^ear  to  he  very  much  ahki'  in  all  forms  of  the 
disease." 

''The  period  of  incubation  is  said  to  vary  all  the  way  from  2 
to  20  days.  In  Decemher  I  placed  a  newly-purchased  barred  Ply- 
mouth Rock  cock  ( 18  mos.  old)  in  a  yard  \\  ith  my  chickens,  many 
of  which  were  recovering  from  sore-head,  and  in  24  hours  this 
cock  developed  a  good  case  of  sore-head  on  the  wattles,  comb 
and  eye-lids.  Tlicre  were  mosquitoes  in  the  roosting  house. 
The  period  of  incubation  varies  with  mode  of  transmission,  viru- 
lency  of  the  virus,  the  weather  (rapid  in  damp  warm  weather 
and  slower  in  cool  and  dry  weather),  and  the  age  and  condition 
of  the  chicken  or  pigeon.  Chicks  from  broiling  size  up  to  7  or 
8  months  old  seem  to  be  most  susceptible.  Chickens  with  large 
combs  seem  to  be  more  susceptible  than  birds  with  small  combs 
and  wattles." 

Treatment.  The  introduction  of  diseased  birds  into  healthy 
flocks  should  be  avoided.  The  same  precautions  should  be  i)rac- 
tised  in  the  isolation  of  sick  birds  and  disinfecting  tlie  houses 
as  is  advised  for  roup  (p.  99).  When  the  disease  is  local- 
ized a  small  amount  of  individual  treatment  cures  many  cases. 
Tiie  crust  or  nodules  should  be  removed  and  the  places  treated 
with  creolin  (2  per  cent  solution)  or  corrosive  sublimate 
(i-iooo)  (p.  29)  and  dusted  with  iodoform.  The  iodo- 
form may  be  put  into  the  eye.  When  the  disease  is  not  far 
advanced  one  such  treatment  may  be  followed  by  daily  greasing 
with  the  ointment  recommended  on  p.  30  or  with  vaseline  or 
lard.  In  bad  cases  the  iodoform  should  be  used  daily  for  a 
few  days  and  then  the  ointment.  \\^hen  cases  have  roup  or 
diphtheritic  symptoms  treat  as  recommended  for  roup  (p.  100). 

Prognosis.  "The  mortality  is  said  to  vary  from  50  to  70  per 
cent  of  the  affected  birds.  I  judge  this  a  low  per  cent  of  losses 
if  Ijirds  are  left  to  themselves  with  proper  care  or  treatment. 
But  if  individual  treatment  is  patiently  and  regularly  applied  the 
mortality  can  be  cut  down  to  less  than  20  per  cent.  If  only  the 
skin  of  the  head,  nnd  the  coml)  and  wattles,  are  involved,  one 
should  lose  less  than  10  per  cent.  If  the  mouth  and  pharynx 
are  also  involved,  less  than  10  per  cent  should  die.  But  if  the 
nasal  passages  and  trachea  are  involved,  or  the  intestines  become 
involved, — good  care  and  treatment  ma)-  save  50  to  80  per 
cent."     (Cary). 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Diseases  of  the  Reproductive  Organs. 

The  direct  economic  importance  of  poultry  lies  in  the  produc- 
tion of  two  things,  viz.,  meat  and  eggs.  For  the  production  of 
the  latter  the  poultryman  is  dependent  upon  the  activity  of  the 
reproductive  system  of  the  hen.  Under  natural  conditions  in 
the  wild  state,  the  progenitors  of  the  domestic  fowl  laid  rela- 
tively few  eggs.  Judging  by  other  species  of  wild  birds  of  the 
present  day,  however,  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  wild  pro- 
genitors of  poultry  possessed  the  potential  ability  to  lay  much 
more  than  the  usual  number  of  eggs  provided  they  were  removed 
from  the  nest  as  fast  as  laid.  Under  domestication  this  practice 
of  removing  the  eggs  as  fast  as  laid,  together  with  the  feeding 
of  rich  foods,  and  still  other  factors,  lays  heavy  demands  upon 
the  reproductive  system.  It  is  not  remarkable  that  an  organ 
system  which  under  conditions  of  nature  produced  from  12  to 
perhaps  30  units  per  annum,  frequently  breaks  down  under 
the  strain  of  producing  from  100  to  250  per  annum  of  the  same 
kind  of  units.  It  could  only  be  expected  that,  as  is  actually  the 
case,  the  egg  producing  organs  would  be  particularly  liable  to 
disease. 

ANATOMY     AND    PHYSIOLOGY. 

In  order  that  the  discussion  of  the  diseases  of  the  reproductive 
organs  may  be  intelligible  it  is  desirable  to  preface  it  with  a  brief 
account  of  the  anatomy  and  physiology  of  the  organs  of  repro- 
duction in  the  hen.  Because  of  the  fact  that  the  corresponding 
organs  in  the  male  are  less  subject  to  disease,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  are  perhaps  better  understood  by  the  poultryman.  because 
of  the  prevalence  of  the  practice  of  caponizing,  on  the  other 
hand,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  discuss  the  male  in  detail  in 
this  connection. 

The  organs  concerned  in  egg  production  in  the  hen  are  shown 
graphically  in  fig.  40.     This  picture  and  the  accompanying  ex- 


>3f^ 


ron.TKN'    DISKASKS    AND     T  1 1 1- I  K    TKICATMF.NT. 


r'-rmtt^ 


Fi),^  40.  Tlic  reproductive  or  egg  producing  organs  of 
a  hen.  See  text  for  explanation  of  figures.  (After 
Duval). 


rori.iKN-  1)isi:asks  and  tiii:ik  •rki-.A'i'Mi'.NT.  157 

planation  of  it  will  make  clear  the  various  parts  of  this  organ 
system.  All  of  tlu-  points  shown  in  the  figure  may  easily  be 
demonstrated  on  a  hen,  killed  dm-ing  a  period  of  laying  activity. 
It  should  he  noted  tliat  this  picture  is  somewhat  diagrammatic 
and  not  in  accord  with  normal  conditions  in  respect  to  at  least 
two  points.  These  are :  ( i )  there  are  two  eggs  in  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  oviduct.  Normally  tlicre  would  l)e  hut  one  there  at  a 
time.  (2)  The  ])roportionate  lengths  of  alhuuien  ])ortion,  isth- 
nuis  and  uterus  are  not  correctly  indicated. 

In  tliis  figure  the  various  niuucrals  have  the  following  sig- 
nificance : 

T.  The  oz'ary;  region  in  which  the  ovules  (later  to  become 
yolks)  are  still  small  in  size. 

2.  An  o'-i'iilc  in  an  intermediate  stage  of  development,  larger 
than  those  at  r,  but  still  not  ready  to  pass  into  the  oviduct  to 
be  lai<l.  It  is  contained  in  a  very  vascular  capsule,  known  tech- 
nically as  the  follicle. 

3.  3.  Ovules  still  larger  and  containing  more  yolk.  The  low- 
er one  is  nearly  ready  to  leave  the  ovary  and  pass  down  the 
oviduct. 

4.  It  will  be  noted  that  on  all  the  larger  follicles  there  is  one 
region  (forming  a  line)  in  which  there  are  no  blood  vessels. 
This  region  (4,  4)  is  known  as  the  stigma.  Here  the  follicle 
wall  breaks  and  allows  the  ovule  (yolk)  to  leave  the  ovary  pre- 
paratory to  laying. 

5.  An  empty  follicle  in  wdiich  the  stigma  has  opened  and  the 
yolk  passed  out. 

6.  Anterior  end  of  the  margin  of  the  funnel  (or  infundibu- 
liim)  of  the  oviduct  or  egg-tube.  When  an  ovule  is  about  to  be 
discharged  from  the  ovary  these  fuimel  lips  or  margins  wrap 
around  that  portion  of  the  ovary,  so  that  the  ovule  may  certainly 
pass  into  the  oviduct  and  not  into  the  abdominal  cavity. 

7.  Opening  of  the  fuiuiel.  Tlirough  this  opening  the  yolk 
passes  into  the  oviduct. 

8.  A  yolk  which  has  just  passetl  through  the  fuimel  opening 
into  the  upper  portion  of  the  oviduct. 

9.  9.  Albumen  secreting  portion  of  the  oviduct  in  which  the 
greater  portion  of  the  albmnen  or  white  of  the  egg.  is  secreted 
by  glands  in  the  walls  of  the  oviilnct  in  tliis  region. 

10.  First  layer  of  albunun.  or  white,  secreted  about  the  yolk. 


158  POULTRY  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

From  tills  layer  arc  formed  the  clialacac.  cr  cords  of  twisted, 
thickened  albumen,  at  each  pole  of  the  yulk. 

11.  ^'olk,  around  which  albumen  is  being  secreted. 

12.  The  germinal  disc.  This  is  the  living  portion  of  the  egg, 
from  which  the  future  chick  develops,  the  main  mass  of  yolk 
serving  as  food  material  for  the  developing  embryo  during  the 
process. 

13.  Anterior  end  of  the  isthmus  of  the  oviduct.  The  prim- 
ary function  of  the  isthmus  is  to  secrete  about  the  egg  the  shell 
membrane,  the  dense  white  membrane  closely  adherent  to  the 
inside  of  the  shell  of  an  egg. 

14.  The  uterus,  or  shell  gland,  in  which  the  shell  is  put  on 
the  egg. 

15.  The  rectum. 

16.  The  walls  of  the  abdomen  cut  and  folded  back. 

17.  External  opening  of  the  cloaca,  or  common  space  into 
which  open  (a)  the  rectum,  (b)  the  oviduct  and  (e)  the  ureters, 
or  kidney  ducts. 

The  processes  concerned  in  the  formation  of  an  egg  are  thus 
summarized  by  LilHe  (The  Development  of  the  Chick,  New 
York,  1908,  pp.  23-25)  : 

"The  formation  of  an  egg  takes  place  as  follows :  The  yolk, 
or  ovum  proper,  escaped  by  rupture  of  the  follicle  along  a  pre- 
formed band,  the  stigma  (fig.  40),  into  the  infundibulum, 
which  swallows  it,  so  to  speak,  and  it  is  passed  down  by  peris- 
taltic contractions  of  the  oviduct.  The  escape  of  the  ovum 
from  the  follicle  is  known  as  the  process  of  ovulation.  During 
its  passage  down  the  oviduct  it  becomes  surrounded  by  layers 
of  albumen  secreted  by  the  oviducal  glands.  The  shell-mem- 
brane is  secreted  in  the  isthmus  and  the  shell  in  the  uterus 
(fig.  40).  The  ovum  is  fertilized  in  the  uppermost  part  of  the 
oviduct  and  tlie  cleavage  and  early  stages  of  formation  of  the 
germ-layers  take  place  before  the  egg  is  laid.  The  time  occu- 
pied by  the  ovum  in  traversing  the  various  sections  of  the  ovi- 
duct is  estimated  by  Kolliker  as  follows:  Upper  two-thirds  of 
the  oviduct  about  3  hours  (formation  of  albumen),  isthmus 
about  3  hours  (secretion  of  shell-membrane),  uterus  12  to  24 
hours  (formation  of  shell  and  laying).  These  figures  are  only 
approximate  and  it  is  obvious  that  they  are  likely  to  vary  con- 
siderably in  different  breeds  of  hens." 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  159 

"Some  of  the  details  of  these  remarkable  processes  deserve 
attention :  The  observations  of  several  naturalists  demonstrate 
that  the  ripe  follicle  is  embraced  by  the  funnel  of  the  oviduct 
before  its  rupture  so  that  the  ovum  does  not  escape  into  the 
body-cavity,  but  into  the  oviduct  itself.  Coste  describes  the 
process  in  the  following  way:  'In  hens  killed  17  to  20  hours 
after  laying  I  have  observed  all  the  stages  of  this  remarkable 
process.  In  some  the  follicle,  still  intact  and  enclosing  its  egg, 
had  already  been  swallowed,  and  the  mouth  of  the  oviduct,  con- 
tracted around  the  stalk  of  the  capsule,  seemed  to  exert  some 
pressure  on  it,  in  other  cases  the  ruptured  capsule  still  partly 
enclosed  the  egg  which  projected  from  the  opening;  in  others 
finally  the  empty  capsule  had  just  deposited  the  egg  in  the 
entrance  of  the  oviduct.'  " 

"The  existence  of  double-yolked  eggs  renders  it  probable  that 
the  oviduct  can  pick  up  eggs  that  have  escaped  into  the  body- 
cavity.  But  in  some  cases  ova  that  escape  into  the  body-cavity 
undergo  resorption  there." 

"Immediately  after  the  ovum  is  received  l)y  the  oviduct  it 
appears  to  become  softer  and  more  flexible  (Coste).  The  up- 
permost portion  of  the  oviduct  then  secretes  a  special  layer  of 
albumen  which  adheres  closely  to  the  vitelline  membrane  and  is 
prolonged  in  two  strands,  one  extending  up  and  the  other  down 
the  oviduct;  these  strands  become  the  chalazac;  the  layer  to 
which  they  are  attached  may,  therefore,  be  called  the  chalazifer- 
ous  layer  (Coste)  of  the  albumen.  The  ovum  then  passes  down 
the  oviduct,  rotating  on  the  chalazal  axis,  and  thus  describing  a 
spiral  path ;  the  albumen  which  is  secreted  abundantly  in  advance 
of  the  ovum  is  therefore  wrapped  around  the  chalaziferous  lay- 
er and  chalazae  in  successive  spiral  layers  and  the  chalazae  are 
revolved  in  spiral  turns.  The  main  factor  in  propulsion  of  the 
ovum  along  the  oviduct  appears  to  be  the  peristaltic  movements 
of  the  latter;  it  is  probable  that  the  cilia  which  line  the  cavity 
have  something  to  do  with  the  rotation  of  the  ovum  on  its  chala- 
zal axis." 

With  this  account  of  the  anatomy  and  physiology  of  the  fe- 
male organs  of  reproduction  in  hand  we  may  proceed  to  a  con- 
siderations of  their  diseases.  These  diseases  fall  at  once  into 
two  classes:  (a)  those  aflfccting  the  ovary  and  (b)  those  aflfect- 
ing  the  oviduct. 


l6o  I'ori.TKV    DISKASKS    AND    TllKlK     IKKAT  M  K  NT. 

DISKASKS    (il-     rilK    ()\A1<N'. 

.Itropliy  of  the  Oi-ar\. 
By  "atrophy"  of  the  ovary  is  meant  a  diminution  in  size  of 
that  orij^an  accompanied  with  a  cessation  of  its  physiological 
activity.  It  may  shrink  to  the  size  and  appearance  which  it 
has  in  a  very  younjr  bird.  The  following  sorts  of  atrophy  of 
the  ovary  may  he  distinguished.  The  different  sorts  are  sepa- 
rated from  each  olher,  not  because  of  any  difference  in  the  end 
result.  l)Ut  because  of  the  different  etiological  factors  concerned. 

1.  Physiological  atrophy. 
a.     Temporary. 

1).      IVTinanent. 

2.  Congenital   atrophy    (  Pseudo-hcrmaphroditismV 

3.  "lUack  atrophy," 

A  physiological  diminution  in  size  or  partial  atrophy  of  the 
ovary  occurs  normally  in  fowls  when  after  a  period  of  laying 
they  go  into  a  more  or  less  prolonged  resting  period.  The  con- 
dition of  the  ovary  is  usually  (in  fowls  under  2  years  old  )  only 
temporarw  The  organ  resumes  its  normal  size  and  activity  af- 
ter a  time.  In  old  birds  (3  to  6  or  more  years  of  age)  it  not 
infrequently  hapi)ens  that  the  ovary  passes  min  an  atrophied 
condition,  and  remains  permanently  in  that  condition  thereafter. 
In  such  cases  the  l)ird  as  a  whole,  and  the  ovary  in  particular, 
may  be  perfectly  healthy,  showing  no  sign  of  disease.  Cases 
of  permanent  physiological  atrophy  of  the  ovary  have  been  ob- 
served at  this  Station  as  follows : 

One  case  in  a  White  Crested  Black  Polish. 

One  case  in  a  Cornish  Indian  Game. 

Several  cases  in  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.  All  uf  the  latter 
were  birds  of  very  high  fecundity  (200  or  more  eggs  per  annum) 
in  their  ])ullct  years. 

It  shoidd  l)e  noted  that  in  what  is  here  called  permanent  ]ihysi- 
ology  atrophy  of  the  ovary  there  is  ;/()  associated  change  of  the 
secondary  sexual  characters.  That  is,  the  hen  does  not  assume 
cock  plumage,  spurs,  enlarged  comb  and  wattles,  nor  any  other 
of  the  secondary  sexual  characters  normal  to  the  male.  This 
indicates  that  in  permanent  physiological  atrophy  (just  as  is 
known  to  be  the  case  in  temporary)  the  only  function  of  the 
ovary  which  is  disturbed  is  that  which  is  involved  in  egg  for- 
mation.    The  activity  of  the  organ  in  regard  to  producing  an 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    T  11  K  1  K    TRKATMENT.  t6i 

internal  secretion  which  in  some  way  controls  the  secondary  sex- 
ual characters  remains  unchanged. 

As  congenital  atrophy  of  the  oivry  are  to  be  classed  cases  of 
pseiulo-hermaphroditism  in  fowls.  In  such  cases  a  true,  func- 
tioning ovary  never  develops.  There  may  be  a  body  which  in 
gross  features  resembles  an  ovary,  but  it  is  inactive  and  does  not 
take  even  the  first  steps  in  oogenesis  (egg  formation). 

There  may  or  may  not  be  a  testis  like  body  present  in  these 
cases.  Not  only  is  the  egg  producing  activity  absent  in  such 
cases,  but  also  in  many  of  them  at  least,  the  internal  secretion 
normally  produced  by  the  ovary  is  lacking  also.  The  bird  then 
takes  on  some  or  all  of  the  secondary  sexual  characters  of  the 
male.     The  appearance  of  such  a  bird  is  shown  in  fig.  41. 


Fig.  41.  Showing  a  case  of  incomplete  hermaphroditism.  In  front  of 
the  line  a-b  the  bird  has  the  characters  of  the  male,  behind  it  the 
characters  of  the  female.  The  ovary  was  not  functional  in  this  bird. 
(Original). 

As  "black  atrophy"  of  the  ovary  is  here  designated  the 
peculiar  disease  of  the  ovary  first  observed  more  than  a  cen- 
tury ago  in  England  as  occurring  in  pheasants.  The  striking 
feature  of  the  disease  is  that  under  its  influence  the  bird  assumes 
the  plumage  appropriate  to  the  male.  The  change  in  the  ovary 
and  oviduct  induced  Iiy  the  disease  appears  to  be  an  atrophy  ac- 
companied by  a  blackening  which  is  probably  a  true  melanosis. 
The  following  account  of  an  outbreak  of  this  disease  about  50 

II 


\C)2  \'0\\:\K\    niSKASKS    AND     11 1 1!  I K    TKI'ATM  I-NT. 

years  aj^o.  wriltcn  by  1  laiiiillt)ii  ( I'loc.  Zool.  Si>c.,  London,  1862, 
p.  24)  is  of  interest:  "In  the  years  1858.  1859.  and  i860  this 
peculiar  alteraticMi  of  slnuture  in  llu-  female  or^jans  of  genera- 
tion ill  llir  Pheasants  was  particularly  prevalent  in  some  parts 
of  England.  I  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  many  speci- 
mens, and  was  able  completely  to  confirm  Mr.  ^■arrel^s  views 
on  this  subject.  Indeed,  the  majority  of  tlie  birds  were  young 
females,  many  of  them  being  birds  of  the  year,  .some  being  in 
their  lirst  moult.  I  found  also  that  the  plumage  varied  and 
approached  that  of  the  male,  not  in  accordance  with  the  age  of 
the  bird,  but  with  the  amount  of  disease  of  the  generative  or- 
gans. The  greater  the  destruction  of  the  ovarium  and  oviduct, 
the  nearer  the  plumage  assimilated  lliat  n\  the  male." 

"For  example,  in  birds  with  the  hen-])hmiage  jM-edominating, 
the  ovarium  and  oviduct  exi.st  as  in  llic  fecundating  hen.  the 
small  ova  lying  in  considerable  numbers  in  the  ovarium,  the 
ovarium  and  oviduct  showing  dark  lead-coloured  masses  of  dis- 
ease." 

"In  birds  with  the  plumage  of  the  male  in  a  measure  exceed- 
ing that  of  the  female,  the  ovarium  is  considerably  diminished 
in  size,  dark-coloured,  and  containing  only  a  few  l)lackened 
ova;  the  oviduct  is  spotted  with  dark  patches,  and  considerably 
contracted." 

"And  thirdly,  in  birds  with  the  male  plumage  predominating 
over  that  of  the  female,  the  ovarium  is  reduced  to  a  small  dark 
amorphous  mass,  resembling  the  coagulated  blood,  the  presence 
of  ova  cannot  l)e  detected,  and  the  oviduct  is  almost  entirely  ob- 
literated at  its  junction  with  the  ovarium.  Thus  it  seems  that 
there  are  3  distinct  phases  in  this  peculiar  abnormal  state  of  the 
generative  functions." 

"I  have  also  noticed  that,  in  most  cases  where  the  male  plum- 
age is  in  excess  of  the  female,  the  tail-feathers  are  particularly 
long,  some  l)eing  as  much  as   19  inches  in  lengtli." 

"Although  .Mr.  Yarrell  states  that  this  condition  of  the  female 
generative  organs  is  not  confined  to  the  PJiasiaiiidac,  and  that  it 
has  occurred  in  the  gold  and  silver  phea.sants,  partridges,  pea- 
fowls, common-fowl,  common  pigeon,  king-fisher,  and  common 
duck,  and  that  other  classes  of  animals  are  liable  to  an  influence 
similar  in  kind,  particularly  among  insects  and  Crustacea,  yet 
this  disorganization  is  rarely  observed  except  among  the  Phasi- 
anidac,  and  i)articularly  when  these  birds  are  produced  in  a  do- 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND    TlIillK    TREATMENT.  163 

mestic  state,  i.  e.,  on  tlic  present  system  of  breeding  pheasants 
in  preserves.  Very  few  battues  take  place  in  which  some  of 
these  birds  (generally  designated  males)  are  not  killed  and 
mixed  indiscriminately  with  the  heaps  of  the  slain." 

"As  to  the  cause  of  this  disorganization,  if  it  occurred  only 
in  the  old  female,  or  if  it  were  a  common  occurrence  among  birds 
either  of  different  genera  or  of  the  same  genus,  it  could  be  easily 
accounted  for ;  but  when  it  is  generally  found  existing  among  a 
class  of  Ijirds  which  are  bred  in  vast  nunil)ers  in  a  particularly 
artificial  manner,  it  leads  one  to  suppose  that  the  cause  must 
be  connected  with  this  condition." 

Tn  regard  to  all  sorts  of  atrophy  of  the  ovary  it  should  be 
said  that  there  is  no  known  way  to  treat  thini.  Such  cases  when 
they  appear  must  be  accepted  1)y  the  poultryman  as  one  of  the 
vicissitudes  of  the  business. 

Gangrene  of  tJie  Oz'ary. 

Salmon  and  other  writers  on  poultry  diseases  following  him 
have  designated  as  gangrene  a  condition  of  the  ovary  relatively 
often  found  at  post-mortem.  Salmon's  discussion  of  the  mat- 
ter is  as  follows :  ''This  disease  is  quite  common  with  all  vari- 
eties of  poultry.  On  examination  of  the  ovary  after  death,  the 
ova  are  found  in  difTerent  stages  of  development,  l)ut  instead  of 
being  yellowish-pink  in  color,  with  the  blood  vessels  well  defined, 
they  are  brown  or  black,  easily  crushed  and  the  C(")ntents  broken 
down  into  a  putrid  liquid.  Death  is  caused  partly  by  peritoni- 
tis and  partly  by  the  absorption  of  the  products  of  decomposi- 
tion." 

'■The  cause  of  this  trouble  is  not  well  understood.  It  has  been 
attributed  to  the  birds  being  too  fat  thus  compressing  the  ovary 
and  hindering  the  evolution  of  the  ova.  As  it  may  occur  in  birds 
whicli  are  not  fat  and  as  it  is  evidently  accompanied  by  the  pen- 
etration and  multiplication  of  bacteria,  it  is  possibly  an  infec- 
tous  disease." 

We  have  not  been  able  to  find  anywhere  in  the  literature  that 
there  has  been  a  thorough  investigation  of  this  disease. 

Ovarian  Tumors. 

Tumors  and  cancerous  growths  on  the  ovary  are  not  uncom- 
mon. These  include  several  sorts  of  interest  to  the  pathologist, 
but  not  to  the  practical  poultryman.     From  the  literature  it  ap- 


104  POULTRY   DISF-:ASES    AND    Tlirik    TREATMENT. 

pears  that  at  least  the  following^  (and  probably  other)  kinds  of 
new  growths  arc  found  Id  occur  on  the  ovary  with  greater  or 
less  frequency. 

1.  I'cnign    tumors,   of    several   types,    including  yolk 
tumors. 

2.  Carcinoma. 

3.  Dermoid  cysts. 

'"Treatment  is,  of  course,  impossible  in  these  cases  as  the 
nature  of  the  disease  is  not  determined  until  after  the  bird's 
death.  If  such  abnormal  conditions  are  frequently  found,  it  is 
an  indication  thnl  there  is  a  predisposition  in  that  direction  in 
the  strain  of  birds.  The  only  way  to  correct  this  is  to  kill  off 
the  flock  and  obtain  different  blood."     (Salmon). 

Abortion  of  Eggs. 

Regarding  this  matter  Wright  (Xcw  Book  of  Poultry,  p. 
574)  has  the  following  to  say:  "This  is  not  to  be  confounded 
with  the  laying  of  soft  eggs.  These  last  are  laid  when  mature, 
and  usually  by  fat  birds;  but  when  violently  driven  or  startled, 
or  subject  to  violence  of  any  kind,  or  even  if  suddenly  and  great- 
ly terrified,  immature  yolks  are  sometimes  detached  from  the 
ovary  and  expelled.  This  is  most  likely  to  happen  with  pullets 
not  yet  laying  but  about  to  lay,  and  being  a  real  miscarriage  or 
abortion,  may  wreck  the  constitution  of  a  valuable  bird  unless 
attended  to.  It  is  distinguished  from  the  other  by  not  occurring 
as  a  rule  in  fat  birds ;  by  the  immature  and  small  size  of  the 
yolk  or  yolks ;  generally  also  by  hemorrhage ;  and  always  by 
signs  of  illness  of  chicks  afterwards.  Any  such  bird  should 
be  placed  for  a  few  days  in  a  quiet  and  comfortable  but  rather 
dark  pen,  with  a  nest  in  case  of  need,  and  fed  on  a  little  bread 
and  milk.  Quiet  rest  is  tlic  main  thing.  l)ut  20  grains  bromide 
of  potassium  may  be  dissolved  in  half  a  pint  of  drinking  water. 
\\''ith  such  care  the  event  may  be  entirely  recovered  from." 

Yolk  Hypertrophy. 

There  are  a  number  of  cases  on  record  where  the  yolks 
formed  by  tiie  ovary  Iiave  been  very  much  larger  than  normal. 
These  "giant  yolks"  are  due  to  a  diseased  condition  of  the  organ, 
possibly  contingent  upon  too  much  forcing  for  egg  production. 
Such  cases  have  been  described  by  Gurlt  (Mag.  f.  d.  ges.  Tier- 
heilk,    1849)    ^^^^   more   recently   by   von   Durski    (Die  pathol. 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  165 

\'eraiiderungen  dcs  Eies  unci  Eileiters  bei  den  \^ogeln.  Berlin, 
1907).  When  yolks  become  very  large  in  this  way  they  may 
break  loose  from  the  ovary  without  any  rupture  of  the  follicle 
wall  along  the  stigma  but  a  breaking  or  tearing  loose  of  the 
stalk  or  pedicle  of  the  follicle. 

Failure  of  Follicle  Wall  to  Rupture. 

Closely  connected  with  the  last  diseased  condition  is  one  dis- 
cussed by  von  Durski  in  which  the  follicle  wall  fails  to  rupture 
and  release  the  yolk.  In  consequence  of  this,  in  the  case  de- 
scribed by  von  Durski,  the  follicle  wall  became  stretched  and 
pulled  out  into  a  long  and  very  much  twisted  stalk.  This  stalk 
hekl  the  hard,  and  decayed  yolk  fast  to  the  ovary.  In  cases  of 
tliis  kind  the  stalk  sometimes  breaks,  and  the  yolk  enclosed  in 
the  follicle  and  with  the  end  of  the  stalk  attached,  passes  down 
the  oviduct  acquiring  albumen,  membranes  and  shell.  In  still 
other  instances  the  stalk  breaks  and  the  follicle  and  contained 
yolk  drops  into  the  abdominal  cavity. 

DISEASES    OE    THE    OVIDUCT. 

Diseases  of  the  oviduct  are  relatively  conmion  and  cause  a 
steady,  and  probably  in  the  aggregate  rather  large  loss  to  the 
poultryman.  Fortunately  some  of  the  diseases  of  the  oviduct 
are  more  amenable  to  treatment  than  are  those  of  the  ovary. 
Further  these  diseases  in  many  cases  show  plain  external  symp- 
toms at  a  relatively  early  stage.  Then  the}-  may  be  recognized 
and  treated  while  it  is  still  possible  to  effect  a  cure.  This  is 
usually  not  the  case  with  ovarian  diseases. 

The  general  external  symptoms  of  the  commoner  diseases  of 
the  oviduct  are  very  much  like  those  of  constipation.  The  poul- 
tryman watching  his  birds  is  indeed  rather  likely  to  confuse  the 
two.  But  if  so  no  harm  is  done.  The  thorough  cleaning  out 
of  the  alimentary  tract,  and  stimulation  of  the  liver  indicated 
in  the  treatment  of  constipation  is  the  very  best  thing  to  be 
done  in  cases  of  inflammation  and  similar  disorders  of  the  ovi- 
duct. 

Inflammation  of  Oviduct. 

This  is  one  of  the  mo>t  important  and  common  diseases  of  the 
oviduct.  It  may  occur  alone  or  in  association  with  other  mor- 
bid conditions  of  this  organ. 


l66  I'OUI/IKV    DISKASKS    AN'D     Tlll-IK     TUKAT  M  KNT. 

Piiic/nosis.  llill  (Diseases  of  ruiiltrv)  gives  the  following 
symptoms:  "A  bird  affected  with  innammatioii  of  the  cji^'j^  pas- 
sage  sufl'ers  acutely.  At  first  tlure  is  a  contimi;il  and  violent 
straining  (sometimes  resultini;  in  apoplexy).  The  wings  are 
dropi)ed  and  the  feathers  puffed  out.  The  vent  is  usually  hot 
and  if  a  thermoiiK'tir  l)e  in-erlcd  the  tenii)eralure  will  l)e  found 
high,  fre(|uently  105  to  107  degrees.*  As  the  inflammation  pro- 
ceeds the  l)ird  hecomcs  more  and  more  mopish  and  exhausted 
hut  does  not  strain  so  violently,  pain  and  exhaustion  acting  as 
preventatives.  Idtimatel\-  the  temperature  becomes  lower,  the 
body  cold  and  with  a  few,  convulsive  gasps  the  sufferer  dies." 

To  these  symptoms  Salmon  adds  the  following,  basing  his 
account  largely  ui)on  the  statements  given  by  Ziirn  :  "The  bird 
at  first  shows  indications  of  a  desire  to  lay  without  being  able 
to  produce  eggs  or  it  may  lay  eggs  containing  more  or  less  blot^d 
or  eggs  without  shells  or  small  and  misshaped  eggs  containing 
albumen  Imt  no  yolk,  or  finally  the  yolk  may  be  dropped  with- 
out any  covering  of  albumen  or  shell.  As  the  innamniation  in- 
creases there  is  high  temperature,  straining  and  an  effort  to  rub 
the  abdomen  upon  the  ground.  In  later  stages  tlie  liird  becomes 
dull,  indisposed  to  move,  the  comb  is  pale,  the  plumage  rough 
and  the  temperature  falls  to  normal  or  below." 

litiology.  There  are  pr(^l)a1)l\'  to  be  distinguished  three 
classes  of  causes  wdiich  lead  io  inllammation  of  the  oviduct. 
These  are : 

1.  Physiological;  from  irritation  due  to  too  frequent  laying 
or  from  too  stimulating  foods  or  coutHments. 

2.  Traumatic;  from  irritation  due  to  too  large  eggs,  or  to  the 
breaking  of  eggs  witliiu  tlie  o\i(hict.  or  similar  causes. 

3.  Sjiecific  infection;  it  is  probabl\-  that  alone  or  in  combina- 
tion willi  the  causes  classed  under  1  and  2  a  specific  infection 
of  the  lining  membranes  of  the  ovitluct  may  occur. 

In  an  inflamed  oviduct  there  very  often  is  a  copious  sero-fibri- 
nous  exudate.  This  hardens  about  any  foreign  body  (egg. 
broken  Q^^g,  etc.)  wdiich  may  be  in  the  oviduct,  and  by  accretion 
causes  this  foreign  body  to  increase  in  size.     This,  of  course, 


*Tliere  must  be  some  mistake  about  this.  105°  to  107°  are  not  at  all 
high  tempcraUires  for  the  domestic  fowl.  In  fact  in  our  experience 
at  this  Station  105°  would  seem  to  be  a  slightly  subnormal  temperature 
rather  than  one  indicating  fever. 


I'ULLTKV    DlSKASliS    AND    TlllilK    TKt;ATME;NT.  J  6/ 

makes  it  still  more  irritating  which  in  turn  provokes  further 
inflammation  of  tlic  walls  of  the  duct.  One  sometimes  finds  rel- 
atively enormous  masses  of  material  in  a  diseased  oviduct,  which 
have  been  huilt  up  in  this  way.  There  is  an  extensive  literature 
on  these  '"egg  concrements"  or  "yolk  tumors"  built  up  either  in 
the  oviduct  or  in  the  abdominal  cavity  by  hardened  fibrous  exu- 
date, about  an  original  basis  of  a  broken,  or  miscarried,  or 
aborted  yolk  or  yolks.  It  is  not  necessary  to  review  this  liter- 
ature here  as  it  is  only  of  interest  to  the  specialist. 

Treatment.  If  this  disease  is  to  be  dealt  with  at  all  tlir  treat- 
ment must  be  individual,  since  it  is  something  w'hich  will  never 
afTect  considerable  numbers  of  the  flock  at  the  same  time.  If 
individual  treatment  is  to  be  successful  it  must  be  beL;un  at  a 
relatively  early  stage  of  the  disease.  Therefore,  it  is  imi)ortant 
that  a  bird  showing  the  symptoms  which  have  been  described 
above  should  be  isolated  at  once  and  as  a  first  step  in  the  treat- 
ment given  a  purgative  dose  of  Epsom  salts  (see  p.  29).  All 
stimulating  foods  such  as  meat,  green  cut  bone,  Unseed  mea!  and 
similar  substances,  as  well  as  condiments  like  condition  powders, 
pepper,  etc..  should  be  immediately  taken  away  from  the  bird. 
A  light  ration  and  ])lenty  of  green  food  should  be  given.  Sal- 
mon recommends  following  the  purgative  with  5^  drop  of  tinc- 
ture of  aconite  root  3  times  a  day.  Equally  effective,  and  much 
easier  to  administer,  will  be  found  i-io  gr.  aconite  root  tablets 
(see  p.  30). 

Prolapse  of  the  Oviduct  (Bversion). 

It  not  infrecjuently  happens  from  one  cause  or  another,  that 
the  lower  portion  of  the  oviduct  becomes  everted  and  projects 
from  the  vent  as  a  mass  of  red  or  purplish  tissue.  This  condi- 
tion is  known  as  prolapsus  of  the  oviduct 

Diagnosis.  The  diagnosis  of  this  diseased  condition  is  simple 
and  consists  merely  in  the  observation  of  the  prolapsed  oviduct. 
If  there  is  a  mass  of  red  or  bloody  tissue  projecting  from  the 
vent  one  is  safe  in  diagnosing  prolapsus.  The  only  point  which 
needs  particular  attention  in  the  diagnosis  is  as  to  the  degree  to 
which  prolapsus  has  occurred  when  the  bird  is  discovered.  The 
importance  of  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  on  it  depends  the  treat- 
ment which  it  is  advisable  to  give.  Where  the  prolapse  is  only 
partial  and  is  discovered  early  it  is  advisable  to  treat  it  by  the 
methods  outlined  below.     If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  prolapse  is 


l68  POULTRY    DISKASICS    AND    TlllCIR    TKICATMENT. 

extensive  and  has  existed  for  some  lime  before  the  bird  is  seen 
so  that  the  mass  of  tissue  has  turned  a  blue  or  purplish  color  or 
has  been  jiretty  extensively  picked  and  torn  by  the  other  birds 
in  the  pen.  then  it  is  useless  to  carry  on  any  treatment  and  the 
proper  thing  to  do  is  to  kill  the  bird  at  once. 

Etiology.  Prolapse  of  the  oviduct  may  be  caused  by  a  num- 
ber of  different  things.  It  is  observed  not  only  in  old  hens,  Ijut. 
in  our  exjierience.  quite  as  frequently  in  pullets.  The  funda- 
mental cause  of  the  condition  is,  of  course,  a  weakness  of  the 
oviduct  walls,  and  ligaments,  chiefly  in  respect  to  their  muscular 
portions,  which  makes  the  oviduct  unable  to  stand  the  strains 
put  upon  it  in  egg  pmduction.  The  immediate  cause  may  be 
either : 

1.  Straining  to  lay  a  very  large  (double  yolked )  egg.  This 
is  perhaps  the  most  common  cause. 

2.  Straining  to  lay  when  there  is  an  obstruction  in  the  ovi- 
duct  (egg  bound). 

3.  Constipation.  The  rectum  full  of  hardened  feces  stimu- 
lates all  organs  in  that  region  of  the  body  to  expulsive  reflexes. 

4.  Ziirn  says  that  often  times  feces  may  become  lodged  in 
the  cloaca  in  a  sort  of  blind  pocket,  and  then  set  up  the  same 
expulsive  reflexes  as  an  egg  in  the  cloacal  or  vaginal  regions 
normally  does.  In  the  effort  to  expel  this  foreign  body  the  ovi- 
duct may  become  everted. 

The  most  serious  thing  about  prolapsus  is  that  if  not  discov- 
ered very  shortly  after  it  occurs  it  is  almost  sure  to  result  fatally, 
because  the  everted  portion  will  become  so  badly  infected  as  to 
cause  blood  poisoning,  or  the  protruding  mass  of  tissue  will  be 
picked  and  torn  by  the  other  birds  in  the  pen  until  there  is  no 
hope  of  repair,  whatever  the  treatment. 

Treatment.  As  stated  above,  the  advisability  of  treating  pro- 
lapsus depends  upon  its  degree  and  duration  before  discovery. 

In  treating  this  condition  the  first  thing  to  endeavor  to  do  is 
to  remove  the  cause.  That  is,  if  the  bird  is  constipated  give  it 
a  rectal  enema  of  warm  soapy  water,  followed  by  34  teaspoon 
of  Epsom  salts  by  the  mouth.  If  there  is  a  lump  of  feces  lodged 
in  the  cloaca  this  should  be  carefully  removed.  The  protruding 
mass  of  tissue  should  be  washed  with  warm  i  to  1000  bichloride 
of  mercury  solution,  or  a  warm  J4  per  cent  cresol  solution.  Af- 
ter the  protruding  parts  are  thoroughly  cleansed  they  should  be 
well  greased  with  vaseline,  or  with  the  ointment  already  recom- 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIR    TREATMENT.  169 

mended  (p.  30).  Then  with  the  fingers  well  greased  an  ef- 
fort should  be  made  to  replace  the  protruding  mass  in  the  body. 
In  doing  this  one  should  proceed  with  the  greatest  gentleness. 
In  most  cases  with  care  and  patience  it  is  possible  to  reduce  the 
prolapsus,  that  is.  to  get  the  extruded  tissue  back  into  the  body 
in  approximately  its  normal  position. 

After  the  parts  have  been  carefully  replaced  in  normal  posi- 
tion the  next  point  to  be  considered  in  the  treatment  is  to  insure 
that  they  shall  stay  there.  That  is  to  say,  it  is  necessary  some 
wav  to  bring  about  a  healthy  degree  of  contraction  of  the  mus- 
cular walls  of  the  oviduct  so  as  to  hold  the  parts  in  place  per- 
manently. In  order  to  do  this  Salmon  recommends  the  use  of 
ergot.  Robinson  follows  Salmon  in  this  recommendation.  It 
should  be  said,  however,  that  it  is  doubtful  whether  this  treat- 
ment is  advisable.  Ergot  is  a  rather  violent  poison  for  poultry, 
[t  seems  likely  that  the  treatment  recommended  by  Salmon  and 
Robinson  is  based  on  a  theory  that  the  action  which  ergot  has 
on  the  mammalian  uterus  wall  be  duplicated  on  the  fowl's  ovi- 
duct rather  than  upon  actual  experience  in  administering  the 
drug  to  poultry.  The  measure  recommended  by  Ziirn  to  bring 
about  a  healthy  contraction  of  the  replaced  oviduct  in  cases  of 
prolapsus  would  seem  to  be  simpler  and  on  the  whole  more 
likely  to  yield  desirable  results  than  the  ergot  treatment.  Ziirn 
recommends  that  a  lump  of  ice  be  placed  in  the  cloaca  after  the 
prolapsed  oviduct  is  returned  to  its  place  and  that  this  treatment 
be  followed  up  for  some  hours. 

The  bird  should  be  kept  in  a  small  coop,  partly  darkened, 
where  there  will  be  every  inducement  for  it  to  remain  perfectly 
quiet.  The  success  of  the  treatment  depends  very  much  on 
keeping  the  bird  quiet  for  a  few  days.  It  should  be  fed  only 
a  light  and  unstimulating  ration  with  plenty  of  green  food. 

Prognosis.     If  discovered  early  enough  prolapsus  is  curable. 
Ohstrnct'wn  of  the  Oviduct  ("Bgg  Bound"). 

Perhaps  the  commonest  of  all  diseased  conditions  of  the  ovi- 
duct is  that  which  leads  the  poultryman  to  say  that  a  bird  is  "egg 
boun«l."'  r.y  this  is  meant  that  there  is  something  in  the  oviduct 
which  the  bird  is  not  able  to  pass  to  the  outside  and  which  in 
turn  prevents  the  normal  passage  of  eggs.  In  many  cases  this 
is  not  properly  speaking  a  disease  at  all  but  rather  an  accident. 
Other  cases,  however,  depend  upon  a  true  diseased  condition 
of  the  oviduct. 


170  I'LIULIKV    DISKASKS    AM)     TlIlvlK    TKl.AT  M  l-NT. 

Dia(/)tosis.  Salmon  (k-scribcs  tlu-  foil' i\\  ini,^  syniptonis: 
"When  fowls  are  ej^g  hound  they  at  first  go  freqiuntly  to  the 
nest,  niakin}^  efi'orts  to  lay  l)ut  are  unahle  to  accomplish  this 
f miction.  Thev  are  restless  ami  evidently  in  more  or  less  dis- 
tress. Later  they  become  dull,  with  rou^h  i)lumage  and  are 
in<lisposed  to  move.  <  >n  examining  the  bird  ])y  ])ressure  of  the 
linger  about  the  vent,  the  egg  can  be  distinguished  as  a  hard 
bodv  in  the  posterior  part  of  the  abdominal  cavity.  In  case  of 
prolapsus,  the  everted  oviduct  may  lie  ca>ily  seen." 

hi  iliis  connection,  however,  it  sh(»uld  be  noted  tliat  these  gen- 
eral symptoms  which  Salmon  describes  are  observed  in  mild 
form  in  a  great  many  cases  witli  birds  whicli  subsequently  lay 
the  egg  without  trouble.  In  many  instances  the  extrusion  of 
an  egg  which  is  fnially  successfully  laid  is  attenderl  with  a  good 
deal  of  difficulty.  There  are  all  degrees  of  gradation  between 
this  somewhat  difficult  but  still  normal  laying  and  the  condition 
of  complete  obstruction  of  the  oviduct  where  the  egg  cannot  be 
passed  at  all.  The  practical:  consideration  to  which  this  leads 
is  that  one  should  not  be  too  hasty  in  applying  treatment  for  the 
egg-bound  condition.  A  diagnosis  of  the  trouble,  in  other 
words,  should  not  be  finally  settled  upon  until  there  remains  no 
doubt  that  the  hen  is  not  going  to  pass  the  egg  without  help  from 
the  outside. 

It  must  also  be  remembered  that  in  many  cases  of  obstruction 
of  the  oviduct,  the  ol)struction  is  so  far  up  that  it  cannot  be  felt 
from  the  outside.  In  such  cases  the  diagnosis  must  be  made 
upon  the  general  behavior  of  the  hen,  and  in  particular  in  regard 
to  going  frequently  on  the  nest  without  laying. 

Etiology.  In  considering  the  causes  of  obstruction  of  the  ovi- 
duct it  is  necessarv  to  distinijuish  between  several  difTcrent  sorts 
f>r  categories.     This  may  lie  done  as  follows: 

I.  Simple  "egg  bound"  condition,  in  which  a  normal  egg  is 
lodged  in  the  uterus  or  vagina  and  cannot  be  expelled.  This 
inability  to  expel  the  egg  may  be  due  to  any  one  or  a  combinatii^n 
of  the  following  causes  acting  together: 

a.  Egg  of  too  large  size,  so  that  it  is  meclianically  difficult 
or  impossible  to  force  it  through  the  natural  passage.  Robinson 
regards  this  as  the  most  common  cause. 

b.  Exhaustion  (true  ])hysiological  fatigue)  of  the  muscu- 
lar walls  of  the  oviduct.  This  condition  results  after  long  con- 
tinued and  unsuccessful  attempts  to  expe  Ithe  egg.     It  leads  to 


pori/nn'  Disi'ASi'.s  and  'i'iii:ik  tki'.atmi'NT.  i/i 

c  Atom-  and  i)aral\-.-i>  of  the  ilucl  in  which  iIk'  nni>cular 
walls  arc  incapable  of  making  any  effective  contraction  at  all. 

2.  Complicated  "egg- bound"  conditions  in  whiidi  the  lunda- 
mental  source  of  the  troul)le  is  not  simply  mechanical,  and  in 
whicli  usually  the  ])ortions  of  the  oviduct  anterior  to  the  uterus 
are  involved.  In  this  general  category  the  following  sorts  of 
cases  are  to  lie  included. 

a.  Atony  and  paralysis  of  the  upper  i)ortions  of  the  ovi- 
duct.    This  condition  may  exist   for  a  long  time  without  being 

recognized. 

b.  Inflammation  of  the  oviihict  leading  to  t.ie  formation  of 
fibrous  exudate  whicli  accumulates  in  the  duct,  until  it  may  form 
a  mass  of  relatively  enormous  size  (usually  with  one  or  more 
yolks  as  a  nucleus)  completely  obstructing  the  duct,  and  event- 
r.allv  leading  either  to  gangrene  or  rupture  of  the  walls,  or  both. 

c.  \'olvolus,  or  twisting  of  the  oviduct  about  its  own  long 
axis,  completely  obliterating  the  cavity. 

d.  Stenosis  or  stricture  of  the  ovi'hv-t.  This  may  result 
from  several  causes.  One  frequent  one  is  that  in  laying  a  very 
large  egg  the  oviduct  wall  becomes  torn  to  greater  or  less  degree, 
and  subsequently  heals.  The  scar  tissue  contracts  the  cavity 
and  a  stricture  is  thus  caused. 

Treatment.  Whether  treatment  is  or  is  not  likely  to  be  ef- 
fective depends  u])on  which  of  the  two  main  categories  above 
defined  anv  given  case  belongs  to.  Simple  obstruction  of  the 
oviduct  may  be  successfully  treated.  In  cases  of  complicated 
obstruction  treatment  is  not  indicated,  for  a  variety  of  reasons. 
These  conditions  are  in  the  first  place  difficult  to  diagnose,  and 
offer  little  prospect  of  successful  cure  even  after  a  diagnosis 
has  been  made. 

The  best  advice  w  hich  has  come  to  our  attention  for  the  treat- 
ment of  the  simple  egg  bound  condition  was  published  some 
years  ago  in  the  English  Journal  "d'ouhr}"  and  is  here  quoted 
verbatim  : 

"It  is  a  good  jdan  to  watch  those  birds  that  are  about  to  lay. 
Should  they  visit  the  nest  frequently  during  the  course  of  the 
day  and  leave  without  depositing  an  egg,  it  is  almost  certain  that 
.something  is  wrong  aufl  when  a  pullet  is  in  such  a  state  there 
are  three  good  remedies  that  ma\-  lie  tried.  The  first  is:  Take 
the  Ijird  up  gently,  and  hold  her  so  that  her  stern  is  over  the 
mouth  of  a  jug  of  boiling  water,  that  the  steam  arising  there- 


\-l  I'OULTRV   DISEASKS   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

from  may  get  to  the  parts  and  help  to  relax  and  procnrc  deHv- 
ery  of  the  e<(i,'.  If  this  has  not  the  desired  efFeet  after  an  hour's 
rest  in  a  ([uiet  coop,  the  vent  should  he  oiled  gently  with  a  feath- 
er, and  the  hen  given  a  powder  composed  of  i  grain  of  calomel 
and  I-I2  grain  of  tartar  emetic.  The  powder  may  he  mixed  in 
a  bolus  of  food,  and  put  into  the  bird's  crop.  If  it  he  acting 
properly  a  marked  improvement  should  be  noticeable  in  the 
bird  a  few  hi)urs  afterwards,  while  a  second  powder  given  two 
days  subse(iuently  will  probably  complete  the  cure.  It  is  advis- 
able for  a  while  to  feed  the  fowl  sparingly  on  a  somewhat  low 
diet,  withholding  any  fat  forming  food,  and  giving  lime-water 
to  drink,  after  the  system  is  rid  of  the  powder.  The  second 
remedy  was  advocated  by  Dr.  H.  B.  Greene,  ****** 
and  is  best  applied  when  the  c%g  can  be  felt.  It  is: — Let  an  as- 
sistant, seated  on  a  chair,  hold  the  bird  firmly  on  his  knees  on 
its  back,  with  the  vent  directed  aw^ay  from  him.  Seating  your- 
self opposite,  with  the  finger  and  thumb  of  the  left  hand  out- 
side llie  bird's  body,  push  the  ^gg  firmly  but  carefully  towards 
the  vent,  until  it  is  ])lainly  visible,  and,  keeping  it  in  that  posi- 
tion, witli  a  iM-adawl  in  the  right  hand  puncture  the  egg  shell, 
evacuate  the  contents  of  the  Q.gg  with  an  egg-spoon,  and  after- 
wards  with  a  pair  of  tweezers  break  down  and  take  out  the 
shell  piece  by  piece  until  assured  by  passing  the  finger  into  the 
vent,  that  the  cloaca  is  empty.  Special  care  must  be  taken  to 
avoid  injuring  the  bird  with  the  point  of  the  awl ;  and  one's  as- 
sistant must  maintain  a  steady  and  firm  hold  on  the  fowl.  A 
third  method  of  relieving  an  Q.gg  bound  hen  was  recommended 
by  a  correspondent  in  our  issue  of  June  lo,  1898.  and  has  since 
been  frequently  tried  by  several  poultry  keepers,  and  found  very 
efficacious.  'When  a  hen  is  in  that  state  I  hold  her  over  some 
hot  water,  bathing  the  vent  at  the  same  time.  After  this  I  use  a 
small  penknife  (blunt)  in  the  following  manner: — Placing  the 
edge  of  the  blade  along  the  first  finger  so  that  the  end  is  level 
with  the  finger  end.  I  push  the  finger  with  the  knife  into  the 
vent  until  they  touch  the  Qgg ;  then  I  begin  to  scrape  until  I  hear 
that  I  have  scraped  the  rind  or  skin  away  from  the  ^gg  (I  mean 
outside  the  egg).  The  hen  is  then  placed  im  tlie  nest,  and  I 
will  guarantee  she  will  lay  in  20  minutes,  or  in  most  cases  even 
less  tlian  that.  I  got  this  advice  from  a  man  who  has  kept 
poultry  on  a  small  scale  for  50  years.  I  have  tried  it  several 
times,  and  have  never  known  a  hen  to  be  Q:gg  bound  a  second 


POULTRY  DISEASES   AND    THEIR   TREATMENT.  1 73 

time.  This  method,  it  would  appear,  .saves  the  egg.  The  great 
thing  throughout  is  to  keep  the  bird  quiet,  and  in  future  to  avoid 
extra  fat  forming  food.'  " 

Prognosis.  Good  in  cases  of  simple  obstruction  if  taken  in 
hand  early;  bad  in  all  cases  of  complicated  obstruction. 

Rupture  of  the  Oi'iduct. 

In  some  cases  of  complicated  obstrviction,  and  in  cases  of 
severe  inflammation  the  walls  of  the  oviduct  may  break  and  al- 
low the  contents  to  escape  into  the  abdominal  cavity.  In  such 
cases  death  usually  ensues  in  a  relatively  short  time  as  a  result 
of  peritonitis.  These  cases  are  incurable ;  indeed  the  trouble  is 
usually  not  known  till  after  the  bird  dies.  The  lower  portion 
of  the  oviduct  (vagina)  or  the  cloaca  may  be  ruptured  in  pass- 
ing a  very  large  egg.  If  the  wounds  made  in  this  way  are  rela- 
tively small  they  will  usually  heal  without  any  trouble.  If,  on 
the  other  hand,  such  tears  are  extensive  they  may  very  easily 
become  infected,  and  unless  treated  properly  in  accordance  with 
the  general  directions  given  in  Chapter  XX  for  the  treatment 
of  wounds,  the  bird  will  die  of  blood  poisoning.  Regarding 
cases  of  this  kind  the  following  excellent  discussion  (presum- 
ably written  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Robinson)  appeared  in  Farm  Poul- 
try some  6  years  ago  (\"ol.  16,  p.  230).  The  writer  says 
that  this  trouble  of  rupture  of  the  oviduct  near  the  vent  he 
"used  to  have  with  Bufif  Leghorns,  and  to  a  lesser  extent  with 
other  varieties  of  the  Leghorn.  Leghorn  hens  quite  generally 
lay  larger  eggs  in  proportion  to  their  size  than  others.  Some  of 
them  lay  eggs  very  much  larger  in  proportion  to  their  size  than 
layers  of  large  eggs  in  the  larger  breeds.  As  a  result  of  this 
the  difficulty  of  laying  is  correspondingly  increased.  When  a 
pullet  begins  to  lay  she  may  lay  small  eggs,  which  are  easily 
passed.  As  warm  spring  weather  comes  she  lays  more  eggs, 
and  also  larger  ones.  Suppose  one  day  there  is  a  slight  tear  or 
a  strain  on  a  part  of  the  oviduct  in  laying.  The  part  is  not 
badly  damaged,  but  it  is  sore,  a  little  inflamed,  and  cannot  be 
stretched  as  it  was  before  to  permit  the  passage  of  the  egg.  But 
the  egg  is  there  and  must  be  extruded.  A  larger  tear  in  the 
parts  is  the  result.  There  may  be  blood  enough  flow  to  make 
the  egg  quite  bloody,  1)ut  the  injury  be  not  yet  serious.  With 
the  next  egg  conditions  are  still  less  favorable  for  a  safe  extru- 


174  l-on.TKV    DISKASKS    AND    TIIIIIK    TUi;aT.M  K.NT. 

.sioii,  ami  i)ciluii)>  a  \xr\-  liad  rupture  results.  cndiiiL;'  in  the 
course  of  a  few  clays  fatally."' 

"I  don't  think  it  ])r<  ifitahk'  to  attempt  ti  •  tre;it  such  cases. 
Some  cures  may  he  effected,  hut  it  is  not  always  easy  to  check 
lavinu^  without  staixini;  the  hen.  ami  e\eu  tliat  treatment  may 
not  operate  (|nit-kly  enough  to  a\oiil  a  liad  ru]>tiu"e.  Kvery  egg 
passed  while  the  vent  .and  adjacent  parts  of  the  passage  are  not 
in  normal  condition  is  a  possihle  cause  of  fatal  trouhle." 

"The  hest  way  to  treat  this  troul)le  is  to  prevent  it  hy  selecting 
medium  sized  eggs  for  hatching.  Select  hreeders  of  good  size; 
select  good  hut  not  excessively  large  eggs  from  these ;  use  males 
from  stock  of  the  same  characteristics,  and  avoid  the  use  of 
males  (and  of  hens  too)  that  are  narrow  hodied." 

Canciycnc  of  Oi'idiict. 

This  may  result  from  severe  and  complicated  ohstruction. 
What  is  meant  hy  "gangrene"  is  that  the  walls  of  the  oviduct 
die,  and  putrefy.  This  causes  general  hlood  poisoning  from 
which  the  hird  dies.  Gangrene  of  the  oviduct  most  frequently 
follows  severe  cases  of  complicated  obstruction  where  there  is 
a  mass  of  fibrous  exudate  deposited  in  the  oviduct.  There  is 
ncjt  the  slightest  hope  of  successfully  treating  such  cases. 

Breaking  of  Bgg  in  Oviduct. 

It  sometimes  ha])])ens  tliat  an  Qgg  in  llie  u])i)er  jxn-tion  of  the 
oviduct,  before  it  has  ac(|uired  any  shell,  is  by  accident  broken. 
There  is  a  belief  common  amongst  poultrymcn  that  this  is  al- 
ways immediately  fatal.  There  is  hut  little  discussion  of  the 
subject  in  the  literature  but  our  experience  here  indicates  that 
two  sorts  of  results  may  follow  the  breaking  of  an  Qgg  in  the 
oviduct.     These  are : 

1.  An  inllammatory  ccjndition  of  the  oviduct  is  induced  lead- 
ing to  copious  secretion  from  the  glands  of  the  albumen  portion 
of  the  duct  and  tlie  isthmus.  Tlure  is  also  a  copious  fibrous  ex- 
udate, and  the  final  outcome  is  a  severe  ca.se  of  complicated  ob- 
struction of  the  oviduct.  Death  in  these  cases  may  be  delayed 
for  a  long  time  after  the  original  accident.  Tn  the  absence  of 
inflammation  recovery  may  possibly  occur. 

2.  Death  within  a  short  time  (2  to  3  hours)  after  the  break- 
ing of  the  Qgg,  without  visible  lesion  of  any  organ  of  the  body. 
The  oviduct  is  not  even  inflamed.     Absolutely  the  only  things 


I'Ori.TKV    DISKASKS    AND    THEIR   TREATMENT.  1/5 

whicli  arc  nnt  imrnial  in  siuli  cases  are  (a)  the  broken  egg  in 
llic  oviduct,  aii.l  ill)  the  fad  tliat  the  l)ir(l  is  dead  We  have 
had  several  such  cases  come  to  autopsy.  They  are  very  puz- 
zhng.  In  thc'in  is  to  l)e  found  the  l)asis  for  the  pouhryman's 
behcf  as  to  the  fatal  character  oi  this  accident.  In  reality  it 
seems  probable  that  in  the.se  cases  the  thing  which  caused  the 
egg  to  be  broken  was  also  the  cause  of  the  death  of  the  bird. 
That  is,  a  blow,  or  anv  sort  of  sudden  shock  \iolent  enough  to 
break  an  egg  in  the  oviduct  might  also  very  well  be  the  cause  of 
death.     Such  cases  need  further  study. 

^Ibiionnal  lujiis. 

Owing  to  various  diseased  conditions  of  the  oviduct  many 
different  kinds  of  abnormal  eggs  are  produced  by  fowls.  The 
explanation  of  the  different  types  of  such  eggs  is  usually  tol- 
erably clear  if  one  gets  definitely  in  his  mind  the  normal  physi- 
ology of  egg  production  as  outlined  above.  We  shall  con- 
sider here  only  some  of  the  more  important  general  classes  of 
such  al)normal  eggs.  Such  eggs  are  very  interesting  from  the 
scientific  standpoint  but  are  of  relatively  little  |)ractical  signifi- 
cance to  the  poultry  keeper  because  of  the  rarit}-  of  their  occur- 
rence. 

Soft-shcUcd  Bggs.  These  are  eggs  laid  without  a  sufficient 
amount  of  shell  substance  covering  the  shell  membrane.  The 
immediate  cause  lies  in  a  failure  of  tlie  uterus  to  fiuiction  prop- 
erly. Regarding  this  class  of  abnormal  eggs  Wright  has  the 
following  to  say:  "Soft  eggs  may  be  caused  by  lack  of  shell- 
material,  which,  if  discovered,  points  to  the  remedw  the  most 
rapid  being  potmded  raw  oyster-shell.  Or  they  may  be  caused 
by  the  fowls  being  driven  or  frightened,  in  whicli  ca-^e  tlicy  soon 
cease,  and  nothing  need  be  done  unless  the  injury  has  been  so 
severe  as  to  ])rematurely  detach  small  and  miripe  yolks,  when 
the  ca.se  becomes  a  real  abortion,  or  they  may  be  caused  by  con- 
diments and  too  much  animal  food,  s]Mces  in  particular  leading 
frequently  to  all  sorts  of  trouble  with  the  egg-organs,  particu- 
larly in  the  Mediterranean  races  of  poultry.  A  few  small  doses 
of  Epsom  salts  or  jalap,  and  cessation  of  the  extra  stimulus, 
will  remedy  this.  But  far  the  most  usual  cause  is  simple  over- 
feeding. .\  little  careful  investigation  will  find  which  is  in  fault, 
and  that  will  indicate  the  appro])riate  remedy.     Want  of  shell 


'/-" 


l'(t^l.■|■u^■  Disi'ASKS  ami  tiikik    inkat.mi'.nt, 


material  is  far  less  common  than  it  used  to  be;  over-feeding  or 
over-stimulation  prol)al)ly  more  so." 

Small.  Vollclcss  Eggs.  These  little  ei,^gs,  variously  called 
'•wind-eggs."  "cock  eggs,"  "witch  eggs,"  "luck  eggs,"  etc.,  are 
familiar  to  every  poultry  keeper.  They  contain  no  definitely 
formed  yolk,  and  to  the  casual  observer  seem  to  consist  of 
nothing  but  a  small  shell  filled  with  white.  The  laying  of  one 
of  these  eggs  is  popularly  supposed  to  mark  the  end  of  a  laying 
period.  This  belief  is  without  foundation  in  fact.  They  may 
be  produced  at  any  time.  Unpublished  data  collected  over  a 
period  of  years  at  this  Station  in  regard  to  such  eggs  indicate 
that  three  factors  are  fundamentally  concerned  in  their  pro- 
duction.    The^^e  arc: — 

1 .  The  bird  must  l)e  in  an  active  laying  condition  ;  the  more 
pronounced  the  degree  of  physiological  activity  of  the  oviduct 
the  more  likel\-  arc  these  eggs  to  be  produced. 

2.  There  must  be  some  foreign  body,  however  minute,  to 
serve  as  the  stimulus  wdiich  shall  start  the  albumen  glands  se- 
creting. This  foreign  body  may  be  either  a  minute  piece  of 
hardened  albumen,  a  bit  of  coagulated  blood,  a  small  piece  of 
yolk  which  has  escaped  from  a  ruptured  yolk,  etc. 

3.  It  seems  likely,  though  this  is  a  point  not  yet  definitely 
settled,  that  ovulation  fi.  e..  the  separation  of  a  yolk  from  the 
ovary)  must  precede  the  secretion  of  albumen  around  the  for- 
eign body  to  form  one  of  these  eggs. 

Double  and  Triple  Yolked  Eggs.  Eggs  wdth  two  yolks  are. 
of  course,  quite  common.  They  result  from  a  disturbance  of 
the  time  relations  of  ovulation,  of  such  nature  that  two  volks 


Fig.  42.     Triple  yullvca   egg.      (Uriginal). 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIR    TKl'.AT  M  KXT.  I// 

f;-et  into  the  (nidurt  at  nearly  the  same  time  and  Ijecomc  sur- 
rounded by  eoninion  layers  of  albumen. 

Eggs  witb  tbree  yolks  are  very  rare.  An  egg  of  this  kind 
laid  by  a  pullet  at  this  Station  is  shown  in  lig.  42. 

I)uiiisioii  ill  Eggs.  The  number  of  different  foreign  sub- 
stances \vhicli  at  tmv  time  or  another  have  been  found  enclosed 
in  eggs  is  great,  'i'hc  list  includes  blood  streaks  or  spots,  blood 
clots  of  firm  consistency  and  often  considerable  size,  lumps  of 
bacteria,  worms,  fecal  matter,  etc.,  etc. 

From  the  practical  standpoint  the  only  inclusions  which  need 
consideration  are  blood  spots.  I\Iany  inquiries  are  annually 
received  at  this  Station  as  to  w'hat  causes  these  spots  and  what 
to  do  to  get  eggs  which  will  be  free  from  them.  These  inquir- 
ies are  most  frequent  in  the  spring  months.  The  only  thing 
zvhicli  can  be  done  in  such  cases  is  to  candle  the  eggs,  and  sell 
only  those  ichicli  shore  no  spots.  Hens  which  arc  ])erfectly  nor- 
mal often  lay  eggs  with  blood  spots,  especially  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  when  laying  is  heavy.  The  blood  which  makes  the 
spot  probably  comes  in  most  cases  from  the  ovarian  follicle. 
When  this  ruptures  a  little  blood  escapes  into  the  oviduct  and 
is  caught  up  in  the  albumen.  The  so-called  "liver"  or  "meat" 
spots  in  eggs  are  in  nearly  every  case  thoroughly  hardened, 
well  packed  together,  blood  clots.  They  may  be  of  large  size. 
These  inclusions  do  not  represent,  as  they  are  sometimes  said 
to,  portions  of  the  oviduct  wall  which  have  been  torn  off  and 
enclosed  in  the  egg. 

Eggs  of  Abnormal  Shape.  There  are  many  other  kinds  of 
abnormal  eggs  besides  those  here  discussed,  but  as  they  have 
no  practical  significance  it  is  not  desirable  to  devote  further 
space  to  them.  In  closing  this  section  we  append  some  figures 
showing  in  outline  some  of  the  curiously  shaped  eggs  which 
have  been  found. 

Vent  Gleet  (Cloacitis). 

This  is  a  true  venereal  disease  of  poultry.  It  usually  begins 
with  a  hen  l)ut  is  transmitted  in  copulation  to  the  male,  and  by 
him  to  other  birds  in  the  flock. 

Diagnosis.  Salmon  gives  the  following  clear  account  of  the 
symptoms :  "The  first  symptom  observed  is  the  frequent  pas- 
sage of  excrement  which  is  voided  in  small  quantities  almost 
as  rapidly  as  it  reaches  the  cloaca.  Often  the  bird  endeavors 
12 


1/8 


POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT, 


FiglZ 


FigIS 


Hq  is 


Fig  W 


Fig  13 


Fig  16 


Fig  19 


Fig  II 


Fig  It, 


Fig  17 


Fig  20 


Cb 

FigZI 


Fig.  43.     Showing  shapes  of  abnormal   eggs   sometimes   found.     (From 

von  Durski  after  Landois). 


rOULTKV    DISEASES    AND   THEIR   TREATMENT.  179 

to  drop  excrement  when  cloaca  is  entirely  empty.  This  action 
is  due  to  the  tenderness  and  irritability  of  the  cloaca  which  gives 
to  the  bird  the  sensation  of  fullness,  and  produces  spasmodic 
contractions.  If  an  examination  is  made  the  mucous  meml)rane 
is  found  in  the  early  stages  to  be  red,  dry,  swollen  and  hot.  In 
a  day  or  two  a  discharge  makes  its  appearance.  It  is,  at  first, 
thin  and  watery,  but  soon  becomes  white,  purulent,  and  ofifen- 
sive.  This  discharge  collects  upon  the  skin  and  feathers  about 
the  vent,  obstructs  the  passage  and  irritates  the  parts  with  which 
it  comes  in  contact.  The  soiled  skin  becomes  red  and  inflamed, 
it  may  be  abraded  by  friction  or  by  the  bird  picking  at  it,  and 
thus  sores  or  ulcers  are  started  which  may  become  quite  trou- 
blesome." 

Etiology.  The  cause  of  the  disease  has  not  yet  been  thor- 
oughly worked  out.  Wright  suspected  it  to  be  identical  with 
human  gonorrhea  because  of  the  similarity  of  symptoms,  in- 
fectiousness, etc.  However,  he  has  not  been  able  to  isolate  the 
Gonococciis,  or  specific  germ  of  gonorrhea  from  affected  birds. 

Treatment.  The  following  is  the  treatment  outlined  by 
Wright:  "Any  hen  found  with  it  should  at  once  be  isolated, 
and  the  male  bird  carefully  examined,  and  if  necessary  also 
isolated.  Give  30  grains  Epsom  salts,  and  twice  a  day  inject 
first  a  4  per  cent  solution  of  cocaine,  and  immediately  after- 
wards a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  4  grains  to  the  ounce.  The 
fifth  day  commence  a  small  copaiba  capsule  daily,  and  inject 
acetate  of  lead,  i  drachm  to  the  pint.  Feed  rather  low  mean- 
while, and  dust  any  sore  places  outside  with  iodoform  or  aristol. 
If  not  well  after  2  or  3  weeks,  we  would  kill  the  bird,  as  the 
disease  is  not  quite  free  from  danger ;  for  if  the  operator  should 
touch  his  eyes  accidentally  before  he  has  cleansed  his  hands,  the 
result  might  be  a  most  violent  inflammation." 

"Break  Down." 

Sanborn  (Farm  Poultry  Doctor)  gives  an  account  of  this 
trouble,  which,  while  brief,  is  to  the  point,  and  says  all  that 
really  needs  to  be  said  about  the  matter.  Especially  to  be  com- 
mended is  the  last  sentence. 

"This  is  the  'baggy  condition'  often  seen  in  old  hens  that  have 
had  too  much  corn.  The  rear  part  of  the  abdomen  is  crowded 
with  fat  and  hangs  down,  sometimes  to  the  ground,  giving  a  very 
unhandsome  appearance  to  the  bird.     The  ceasing  to  feed  corn 


l!^  I'dlLIKV    niSKASKS    AND    TIIKIR    TRI-ATM  KNT. 

and  otluT  tat-])n»(lucinL,'  foods  will  sonictimcs  remedy  this  con- 
dition. Init  a  bird  that  has  been  allowed  to  get  into  such  a  shape 
is  spoiled  for  life  both  as  a  layer  and  breeder.  The  hatchet 
and  pot  should  be  the  fate  of  such  a  binl." 

Pisrasi'S  of  the  Mole  Reproductive  Organs. 

A  ninnlier  of  diseases  of  the  male  reproductive  organs  have 
been  described  but  they  are  all  of  no  practical  significance,  for 
the  reason  that  no  poultryman  ought  ever  to  use  as  a  breeder  a 
male  bird  that  ever  had  any  disease  of  these  organs,  whether  it 
had  been  "cured"  or  not. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Diseases  of  Chickens. 
White  Diarrhea. 

Of  all  the  diseases  which  the  poultryman  is  called  upon  to 
fight,  there  is  probably  none  so  destructive,  year  after  year,  as 
the  disease  (or  diseases)  known  as  "white  diarrhea."  The  loss 
of  chicks  ascribed  to  this  cause  varies  in  different  years  and  is 
different  places  from  lo  to  90  per  cent.  It  is  perhaps  not  too 
much  to  say  that  more  than  50  per  cent  of  the  chicks  hatched 
throughout  the  country  are  lost  from  white  diarrhea  in  its  vari- 
ous forms.  The  number  of  inquiries  concerning  this  disease 
which  are  annually  received,  and  the  amount  of  space  devoted 
to  it  by  the  poultry  press,  lead  one  to  believe  that  "white  diar- 
rhea" is  perhaps  the  worst  enemy  with  which  the  poultryman 
must  contend. 

White  diarrhea  is  more  common  among  artificially  hatched 
and  brooded  chicks  than  among  those  which  have  been  hatched 
and  cared  for  by  hens.  However,  it  is  by  no  means  unknown 
among  the  latter.  ]\Iany  poultrymen  report  as  heavy  mortality 
from  this  disease  among  hen  hatched  and  reared  chicks  as 
from  those  which  were  incubated  and  brooded  by  artificial 
methods. 

Almost  any  chick  that  comes  out  of  the  shell  apparently 
healthy  on  the  21st  day  will  live  for  the  first  w^eek.  If  white 
diarrhea  is  going  to  strike  the  brood  they  usually  begin  to  show 
symptoms  about  the  end  of  the  first  week  or  later.  The  heavy 
loss  of  chicks  from  this  disease  occurs  between  the  ages  of  i  and 
1  weeks.  Where  the  brood  is  badlv  affected  chicks  may  con- 
tinue  to  die  until  the  fourth  or  fifth  week.  On  the  other  hand 
if  a  brood  goes  through  its  first  3  weeks  of  life  without  being 
attacked  by  this  disease  it  is  practically  safe  from  its  ravages. 
White  diarrhea  then  may  be  said  to  be  limited  to  the  first  3 
weeks  of  the  chick's  life  so  far  as  serious  mortality  from  it  is 
concerned.     The  reason  for  this  no  doubt  is  that  the  digestive 


l82  POULTRY  DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT, 

system  of  chicks  under  3  weeks  oltl  is.  so  delicate  that  even  a 
slight  disturbance  makes  a  very  serious  handicap  for  the  chick. 

Etiology.  Within  recent  years  a  large  number  of  studies 
concerning  the  cause,  prevention  and  cure  of  white  diarrhea 
have  been  conducted.  Investigations  have  been  carried  on  by 
state  and  national  institutions  as  well  as  by  many  private  in- 
(hviduals.  Consequently  a  large  number  of  alleged  causes  of 
the  disease  are  given  by  dififerent  writers.  Among  these  may 
be  mentioned :  Debilitated  breeding  stock,  improper  incuba- 
tion, improper  brooding,  overheating,  cliilling,  poor  ventilation, 
over-crowding,  poor  or  improper  food  and  filth  as  well  as  spe- 
cific bacteria,  fungi  or  other  parasitic  organisms. 

Dr.  Geo.  B.  Morse  in  the  Reliable  Poultry  Journal  for  July, 
1909,  classifies  the  causes  of  diarrhea  in  chicks  as  follows: 

"First  among  these  causes  is  the  class  of  physical  agents. 
Under  this  title  I  would  place  such  agencies  as  heat  or  its  lack, 
moisture  or  its  lack,  producing  what  we  call  in  human  medi- 
cine, the  diarrhea  of  relaxation.  Such  a  condition  is  produced 
in  the  intestinal  tract  that  a  large  amount  of  serum  is  driven 
through  the  intestinal  wall  into  the  lumen  of  the  intestine,  and 
in  doing  so  the  cells  are  loosened,  antl  thus  we  have  the  devel- 
opment of  a  catarrh.  This  condition  may  be  brought  about  by 
the  agencies  just  mentioned." 

"Another  class  of  agencies  may  be  designated  foreign  bodies, 
and  in  this  class  I  place  such  diarrheas  as  originate  from  im- 
proper feeding,  too  early  feeding  or  feeding  wrong  material. 
W'c  know,  from  analogy,  that  in  mammalians  whether  human 
or  the  lower  animals,  such  a  condition  is  possible." 

"Then  we  have  another  large  class  of  intestinal  derangements 
01  catarrhs  or  inflammatory  conditions  produced  by  what  we 
call  living  agents  or  parasites.  These  produce  what  we  may  call 
parasitic  inflammations.  Now,  we  must  subdivide  this  class 
into  two,  and  we  may  get  rid  of  one  substance  at  once  by  placing 
in  it  those  catarrhs  or  inflammations  produced  by  the  larger 
parasites,  macroscopic  parasites,  such  as  worms." 

"Thus  we  come  to  the  other  sub-class  of  parasites  causing  de- 
rangements in  the  intestines,  the  microscopic  parasites  or  micro- 
organisms. This  sub-class  of  diarrhoea-producing  micro-organ- 
isms falls  naturally  into  3  groups.  Having  already  referred  to 
the  animal  kingdom  in  speaking  of  worms  we  shall  take  our 
first  group  of  parasitic  micro-organisms  from  that  same  king- 


POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    TllElK    TKEATMKNT.  183 

doni ;  these  arc  the  protozoa,  the  lowest  aiiinuil  funiis.  The  oth- 
er two  groups  of  micro-orgaiiisinal  agents  of  enteritis  are  found 
in  the  plant  kingdom  ;  they  are  bacteria  and  molds.  Hence,  the 
3  groups  of  microscopic  agents  of  intestinal  inflammation  are 
protozoa,  molds  and  bacteria." 

It  is  doubtful  if  many  of  the  cases  of  true  zvhite  diarrhea  are 
caused  by  the  physical  or  mechanical  agents  mentioned  in  Dr. 
Morse's  first  two  classes.  In  most  cases  true  white  diarrhea 
appears  to  be  an  infectious  disease.  Such  disease  we  know  is 
caused  by  some  form  of  parasitic  organism.  Without  doubt 
improper  incubation,  brooding  and  feeding,  resulting  in  weak- 
ened chicks,  very  often  lay  the  foundation  for  the  attacks  of 
parasitic  organisms.  In  many  cases  these  faulty  methods  of 
handling  the  eggs  and  chicks  appear  to  be  the  real  cause  of  the 
disease  while  they  are  really  only  indirect  causes. 

From  this  it  should  not  be  understood  that  such  things  as  poor 
food,  poor  brooding  and  weakened  breeding  stock  are  of  no 
importance  in  the  study  of  white  diarrhea.  It  is  just  exactly 
these  predisposing  factors  which  result  in  chicks  with  weak  con- 
stitutions, easily  overcome  by  disease  germs.  Without  doubt  the 
points  at  which  most  progress  can  be  made  in  combatting  such 
diseases  are  in  the  methods  of  incul)ation  and  in  the  care  of 
the  chicks  for  the  first  3  weeks  of  their  lives.  Nevertheless 
it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  death  of  the  chick  is  caused 
by  the  ravages  of  some  minute  parasitic  organism. 

Within  recent  years  several  investigators  have  discovered 
organisms  which  they  believe  to  be  the  specific  cause  of  white 
diarrhea.  Three  of  these  may  be  mentioned  at  this  place :  (i) 
Coccidiiim  tcnellnm  or  cunicnli  producing  the  disease  called 
''coccidiosis."  (2)  Bactcriiiin  pidlorum  producing  '"bactillary 
white  diarrhea"  and  (3)  Aspergillus  fumigatus  and  allied  spe- 
cies, producing  aspergillosis  or  brooder  pneumonia  of  chicks. 
Of  these  the  first  two  diseases  will  be  considered  in  some  detail 
in  the  following  paragraphs.  Aspergillosis  is  treated  in  a  sepa- 
rate section  of  this  chapter  (cf.  p.  193). 

Intestinal  Coccidiosis. 

In  Circular  128  of  the  bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  U.  S.  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  Dr.  G.  B.  ^^lorse  published  a  prelim- 
inary account  of  some  investigations  on  the  cause  of  white  diar- 
rhea.    -Microscopic  examination  of  the  intestines  of  chicks  dying 


1 84 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND    THEIR   TREATMENT. 


12  .- 


II 


\o 


Fig.   44.     Diagrammatic  representation  of  the  life  historj-  of  a 
Coccidium.     (After  Cole   and   Hadley). 


POULTRY    DISEASKS    AXD    TIIKIR    TRKATMEXT.  185 

wllh  tlii.^  disease  i"e\calecl  the  pre.seiice  of  large  nuiuljcrs  of 
protozoan  organisms  which  he  identified  as  Coccidiiim  tcnellum. 
At  i)ractically  the  same  lime  Drs.  Cole  and  Iladley  of  the  Rhode 
Island  Experiment  Station  reported  finding  a  similar  organism 
in  white  diarrhea  chicks.  They  identified  it  as  Coccidiuin  ciiiii- 
ciili.  These  two  species  of  coccidinm  are  so  nearly  alike  that  it 
is  very  ditllcult  to  distinguish  them  except  bv  prolonged  study  of 
their  life  cycles.  \^arious  species  of  coccidia  have  long  been 
known  to  infest  many  domestic  animals.  In  all  cases  that  have 
been  studied  they  produce  very  serious  diseases. 

Tile  life  history  of  a  coccidium  is  very  complicated  }et  in  or- 
der to  combat  this  parasite  most  successfully  it  is  necessary  to 
know  something  of  its  life  history.     Fig.  44  represents  the  dif- 
ferent stages  in  the  life  history  of  these  parasites.     If  one  should 
examine  with  a  microscope  the  contents  of  one  of  the  ceca  of  a 
chick  which  died  with  this  form  of  white  diarrhea  he  would  fmd 
forms  somewhat  like  No.  i  in  the  figure.    These  are  the  oocysts 
or  permanent  cysts  of  the  coccidium.     The  membrane  around 
the  outside  of  this  cyst  is  very  tough  and  will  withstand  almost 
all  methods  of  disinfection.     It  will  live  and  even  grow  in  sul- 
phuric acid.     It  can  be  killed,  however,  by  drying.     The  size  of 
these  cysts  is  about  14-25000  inch  and  21-25000  inch.     If  this 
cyst  is  placed  under  the  right  conditions  for  development  the 
first  step  is  for  the  protoplasm  to  divide  into  4  spherical  bodies 
which  are  called  sporoblasts  (fig.  44,  2).     Each  of  these  sporo- 
blasts  then  divide  into  two  sickle-shaped  sporozoids  (cf.  fig.  44. 
3  and  4).     These  sporozoids  are  then  set  free  in  the  intestinal 
tract  (4a)  and  each  one  penetrates  with  its  pointed  end  an  epi- 
thelial cell  of  the  intestine  as  at  No.  5.     In  the  figure  5a.  5b,  5c, 
6  and  6a,  represent  the  succeeding  stages  of  growth  of  the  or- 
ganism within  the  intestinal  cell.     As  .shown  in  6a  and  7  the 
parasite  grows  so  large  that  it  completely  fills  the  cell  and  finally 
these  cells  are  broken  down  and  torn  ofif  the  intestinal   wall. 
The  stage  of  the  parasite  shown  at  6a  and  7  is  known  as  the 
schizont.     The  next  step  is  for  the  .schizont  to  break  u]-)  into 
a  larger  number  of  sharp  pointed  bodies  as  shown  at  7a.     These 
escape  and  enter  other  epithelial  cells  just  as  the  somewhat  sim- 
ilar bodies  did  at  5.     At  this  point  the  organism  may  do  one 
of   two   things.     The   small   sporozoids   from   7a  may   develop 
exactly  like  the  sporozoids  did  from  5  to  7.     Thi<;  part  of  the  life 


l86  POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

cycle,  as  shown  by  the  shorter  arrow  from  7a  to  5  may  be  re- 
peated any  number  of  times. 

1  f.  however,  the  conchtions  are  not  very  good.  i.  c,  the  bird  is 
about  to  die  the  sporozoids  undergo  an  entirely  different  devel- 
opment as  shown  at  numbers  7  to  15  (fig.  44).  Here  the  sporo- 
zoids enter  the  epithelial  cells  and  some  develop  into  very  large 
i^g^)  eells  (female  element)  as  shown  at  8,  9  and  10.  Others 
go  through  the  development  shown  in  8a,  9a  and  loa,  forming 
a  very  large  number  of  minute  motile  zooids  or  sperms  (male 
element)  which  unite  with  one  or  more  of  the  large  ^gg  cells 
as  shown  at  11.  After  this  sexual  union  there  is  developed 
the  oocyst  like  No.  i.  with  which  w^e  started.  At  all  stages  of 
this  disease  many  of  these  cysts  are  carried  to  the  outside  with 
the  feces  and  upon  being  picked  up  serve  to  infect  other  chicks. 
Death  is  caused  by  the  parasite  attacking  so  many  of  the  intes- 
tinal cells  that  the  chick  is  no  longer  able  to  digest  its  food. 
There  are  also  secondary  effects  by  which  the  kidneys  are  de- 
ranged and  throw  out  a  large  amount  of  white  urates,  hence  the 
name  "white  diarrhea." 

Diagnosis.  The  symptoms  of  coccidiosis  are  similar  to  those 
of  other  forms  of  white  diarrhea,  (cf.  p.  189).  The  only 
exception  is  that  according  to  Morse  the  ceca  arc  always  dis- 
tended with  yellowish-white  cheesy  matter.  In  other  forms  of 
white  diarrhea  this  may  or  may  not  be  the  case.  These  differ- 
ent forms  of  white  diarrhea  have  been  too  little  studied  yet  to 
permit  of  an  exact  differential  diagnosis  on  external  symptoms 
even  supposing  that  ever  to  be  possible.  With  the  aid  of  a 
microscope  the  finding  of  coccidial  cysts  in  the  fecal  matter 
would  indicate  tliat  these  were  causing  the  <lisease. 

Dr.  lladley  has  carried  out  some  feeding  experiments  with 
these  coccidia  and  lias  found  that  he  is  able  to  produce  the  dis- 
ease in  cliicks  more  than  two  days  old.  As  will  be  mentioned 
later  (p.  188)  it  is  said  that  infection  witli  the  bacterium  of 
bacillary  white  diarrhea  cannot  take  place  after  the  chick  is  48 
hours  old.  It  is  possible  that  fm-ther  work  w'ill  show  that  these 
facts  are  of  some  importance  in  distinguishing  these  two  forms 
of  the  disease. 

Bacillary  IVhitc  Diarrhea. 

In  May,  1908,  Dr.  L.  F.  Rettger  and  Mr.  vS.  C.  Harvey  pub- 
lished  a   paper   on   "Fatal    Septicemia   in    ^'oung   Chickens  or 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND    T  1 1 1!  1  U    TREATMENT.  187 

'White  Diarrhea.'"  (Journ.  ^vled.  Researeh).  From  a  large 
number  of  observations  and  experiments  they  came  to  the  con- 
chision  that  white  diarrhea  was  caused  by  a  bacterium.  A  num- 
ber of  later  papers  by  Dr.  Rettger  have  appeared  since  then  (e. 
g.,  Journ.  Med.  Research,  July,  1909;  Am.  Poult.  World,  \'ol.  t, 
Nos.  3  and  5  ;  also  Rettger  and  Stoneburn.  Storrs  Agr.  Expt. 
Sta.  Rul.  60V  In  all  of  these  the  fact  has  been  clearly  brought 
out  that  at  least  one  form  of  white  diarrhea  is  caused  by  a 
bacterium. 

Dr.  Rettger  took  chicks  which  had  died  with  all  the  symp- 
toms of  white  diarrhea  and  by  the  ordinary  bacteriological 
methods  obtained  pure  cultures  of  a  bacterium  which  had  cer- 
tain definite  reactions  and  habits  of  growth.  By  these  methods 
this  bacterium  can  be  distinguished  from  other  kinds.  To  this 
species  of  bacteria  he  gives  the  name  Bacterium  pnllorum. 
Xow  if  entirely  healthy  chicks  were  inoculated  with  the  pure 
culture  of  this  bacterium  they  almost  invariably  showed  symp- 
toms of  white  diarrhea  and  in  many  cases  died.  To  cite  only 
one  case;  at  the  Storrs  Experiment  Station  (Bull.  60)  210 
White  Leghorn  chicks  were  hatched  from  healthy  stock.  These 
were  divided  into  several  lots,  some  of  which  were  infected  by 
feeding  bouillon  cultures  of  Bacterium  pullorum.  Other  lots 
were  used  as  controls.  The  results  were  as  follows :  "During 
the  first  two  weeks  the  comparative  mortality  was  as  follows: 

Control  lots  (84  chicks)  5  deaths  or  6  per  cent. 

Infected  lots  (126  chicks)  22  deaths  or  18  per  cent. 
At  this  time  the  chicks  in  the  control  lots  averaged  15  per  cent 
more  in  weight  than  those  in  tlie  infected  lots  and  appear  in 
every  way  greatly  superior  to  them." 

Tn  manv  cases  Dr.  Rettger  was  able  to  find  Bacteriiiui  piil- 
lornm  pure  in  the  artificially  infected  birds.  Further  he  was 
able  to  obtain  the  same  bacterium  from  a  large  number  of  dif- 
ferent chicks  gathered  from  widely  dififerent  localities.  Dr. 
Rettger  says  (Am.  Poult.  World,  January,  1910)  :  "From  the 
blood  of  the  liver,  heart  and  lungs  I  have  repeatedly  found  the 
organism — Bacterium  piillonim.  y\ove  recently  I  have  been 
able  to  obtain  the  organism  without  difficulty,  from  the  unab- 
sorbed  yolk  and  in  some  instances  from  the  crop  of  the  afifected 
chicks.  In  some  chicks  that  were  quite  young  at  the  time  of 
death   (2  or  3  (lavs')   the  same  bacterium  may  be  found  in  the 


l88  rOULTRV   DISICASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

intestines.  In  older  birds  it  is  obscured  by  the  common  and  rap- 
idly growing  intestinal  organisms,  particularly  the  colon  bacil- 
lus." 

Dr.  Rcttgcr  has  also  been  able  to  find  this  same  organism  "in 
(a)  the  ova  in  the  ovaries  of  the  hens,  (b)  the  yolk  of  fresh 
laid  eggs,  (c)  eggs  incubated  for  varying  lengths  of  time  and 
(d)  yolk  sacs  of  fully  developed  chicks  still  within  the  shell." 
This,  together  with  the  evidence  that  the  organism  does  produce 
white  diarrhea,  shows  pretty  conclusively  that  one  source  of 
infection  is  the  hen.  The  feeding  experiments  with  pure  cul- 
tures of  the  bacillus  apparently  show  that  the  infection  must 
begin  within  the  first  48  hours  after  the  chicks  are  hatched, 
v'^everal  investigators  have  shown  that  it  is  impossible  to  infect 
chicks  by  feeding  after  they  are  two  days  old.  It  may  be  said 
that  Dr.  Rettger  has  proven  that  at  least  one  form  of  white 
diarrhea  is  caused  by  a  bacterium.  The  relation  of  this  form 
of  the  disease  to  that  caused  by  other  organisms  is  still  a  subject 
for  investigation. 

Diagnosis.  The  external  symptoms  of  bacillary  white  diar- 
rhea are  much  the  same  as  those  given  for  the  disease  in  gen- 
eral (cf.  p.  189).  Tlic  following  post-mortem  appearances  are 
reported  by  Rettger  and  Stoneburn  : — 

"Crops — Empty  or  ])artiallv  filled  witli  slimy  fluid  or  with 
food." 

"Lungs — Apparently   normal.      (Tubercles   not   observed)." 

"Liver — Pale,  with  streaks  and  patches  of  red.  These  appar- 
ently slightly  congested  areas  are  usually  large  in  size." 

"Kidney  and  Spleen — Apparently  normal." 

"Intestines — Pale,  and  for  the  greater  part  empty.  A  small 
amount  of  dark  grayish  or  brownish  matter  frequently  present." 

"Ceca — With  few  exceptions  but  partially  filled  with  a  gray- 
ish soft  material.     Only  occasionally  cheesy  or  firm  contents." 

"Unabsorbed  Yolk — Usually  present  varying  in  size  from  a 
pea  to  a  full-sized  yolk.  The  color  may  vary  from  yellow  to 
brownish  green  or  nearly  black.  In  consistency  there  is  also 
much  variation.  It  may  appear  ])erfectly  normal,  distinctly 
gelatinous,  or  watery.  Frequently  it  is  observed  in  the  char- 
acter of  custard  and  again  more  or  less  dry  and  firm.  Unless 
the  chirk  lias  been  dead  for  some  time  the  yolk  is  usually  not 
found  put!  id.  1)ut  merely  stale." 


POULTRY   DISEASES    AND 


IR     TRliATMENT. 


189- 


"The  chick  as  a  whole  appears  more  or  less  anaemic  and 
emaciated.  The  muscles  of  the  wings,  hreast  and  legs  may  he 
almost  completely  wasted  away." 


Fig.   43.     Ten    day    White    Leghorn   chicks   showing   symptoms   of 
bacillary    white   (liarrhca.      (After   Rettger   and    Stoneburn). 

The  chief  diiterence  between  this  and  coccidiosis  appears  to 
be  in  the  contents  of  the  ceca  (cf.  p.  186). 

Diagnosis  of  JJ'liitc  Diarrhea  in  General.  The  symptoms  of 
white  diarrhea  are  in  general  the  same  for  the  dififerent  forms 
of  the  disease.  They  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows:  The 
affected  chicks  appear  stupid  and  remain  under  the  hover  or  hen 
much  of  the  time.  They  isolate  themselves  from  the  rest  of 
the  flock  and  appear  indifferent  to  what  goes  on  about  them. 
Their  feathers  become  rough  and  the  wings  droop  (cf.  fig.  45). 
There  is  progressive  loss  of  weight.     The  birds  eat   little  or 


Fig.   46.     Normal   ten   day    White   Leghorn   chicks.      (After   Rettger 

and  Stoneburn). 

nothing  and  appear  unable  to  pick  up  their  food.  Their  actions 
in  this  direction  arc  chiefly  mechanical.  The  characteristic 
whitish  discharge  from  the  vent  very  soon  makes  its  appear- 
ance.    The   discharged   matter  may   be   creamy   or   sometimes 


T90  roTi.TRv  Disr:.\?r.s  and  tiii:ik   iui-atmknt. 

niixcd  with  hrcnvii.  The  (hschargcd  matter  is  more  or  less 
sticky  or  glairy.  In  many  cases  it  clings  to  the  down  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  to  plug  up  the  vent.  This  condition  is  known  as 
"pasting  up  hehind." 

Many  of  the  chicks  chirp  or  ])ecp  constantly  or  will  utter  a 
shrill  cry  apparently  of  pain,  when  attempting  to  void  the  excre- 
ta.    These  sounds  are  often  characteristic  of  the  disease. 

Tn  many  cases  the  chicks  present  the  appearance  of  being 
"short  backed"  or  "big  bellied."  T^r.  Woods  describes  this  as 
follows : 

"The  weakling  is  almost  always  big-ljellied,  the  abdomen  pro- 
truding to  the  rear  so  that  it  bunches  out  behind,  well  out  of 
line  with  the  vent,  with  the  result  that  the  chick  looks  as  if 
tlic  tail  piece  and  backbone  has  been  pushed  forward  and  in 
just  above  the  vent."      (Cf.  fig.  45). 

In  some  cases  the  chicks  die  with  l)ut  little  warning  and  show 
few  of  the  above  symptoms.  In  other  cases  the  sick  chick  will 
last  a  long  time  showing  all  the  symptoms  mentioned. 

Post-mortem  examination  often  reveals  but  few  lesions.  One 
of  the  most  striking  things  is  the  loss  of  flesh  if  the  disease  has 
lasted  for  some  time.  The  alimentary  canal  is  usually  nearly 
empty  except  for  some  slim}^  fluid.  The  organs  are  all  very 
pale.  The  liver  may  have  a  few  streaks  showing  congested 
areas.  Some  of  the  unabsorbed  yolk  may  or  may  not  be  pres- 
ent. There  is  considerable  variation  in  its  appearance.  It  is 
not  usually  putrid  unless  the  chick  has  been  dead  for  some  time. 

The  ceca  are  often  filled  with  firm,  cheesy  or  soft  grayish 
material  depending  apparently  to  some  extent  upon  the  form  of 
the  disease  (cf.  pp.  186  and  188). 

Treatment.  The  treatment  of  white  diarrhea  depends  some- 
what on  the  cause.  If  it  is  due  to  improper  feeding  or  brooding 
of  course  the  only  treatment  consists  in  removing  the  cause. 
This  will  prevent  the  trouble  in  the  later  flocks  and  will  help 
those  already  affected.  A  small  dose  of  a  good  purgative  such 
as  Epsom  salts  will  probably  helj)  in  bringing  the  chicks  into 
better  condition.  Dr.  P.  T.  Woods  recommends  giving  the 
chicks  scalded  sweet  milk  with  a  little  grated  nutmeg  4  times 
a  day.  He  also  recommends  boiled  rice  as  food.  They  should 
have  plenty  of  charcoal  before  them  and  in  their  mash.  They 
should  also  have  green  food  every  day.  If  green  food  is  not 
available  raw  vegetables  may  be  su])stituted.     Some  good  anti- 


PULI.TRV    DISEASES    AND    T  1 1 1',  I  R    TKKAT.M  KNT.  IQI 

septic  should  be  used  in  the  (h'inking  water.  Potassium  per- 
manganate as  recommended  on  p.  i6  may  be  used.  Dr.  Morse 
recommends  also  bichloride  of  mercury,  using  lO  of  the  i-iooo 
grain  tablets  to  one  quart  of  water.  Also  lO  grains  of  iron  sul- 
phate to  the  gallon  of  water  is  said  by  some  to  be  good.  It  is 
the  opinion  of  the  writers  that  neither  of  the  latter  two  is  as 
desirable  for  use  as  an  antiseptic  for  the  water  as  permanganate. 
These  recommendations  apply  to  any  case  of  white  diarrhea 
whatever  its  cause.  In  the  forms  of  white  diarrhea  caused  by 
parasitic  organisms  specific  modes  of  treatment  or  of  prevention 
may  be  recommended.  In  the  case  of  coccidiosis  Dr.  Morse 
says  tiiat  the  eggs  should  be  dipped  in  95  per  cent  alcohol  or  a 
4  per  cent  solution  of  a  good  coal  tar  disinfectant  before  they 
are  placed  in  the  incubator.  The  incubators  and  brooders  should 
all  be  thoroughly  disinfected  every  time  they  are  used.  The 
treatment  of  sick  chicks  should  be  as  recommended  above. 

In  the  case  of  bacillary  white  diarrhea  the  same  recommen- 
dations for  disinfection  of  incubators,  brooders  and  the  prem- 
ises should  be  followed.  Dr.  Rettger  says  that  it  is  only  dur- 
ing the  first  48  hours  that  the  chick  can  be  infected.  Conse- 
quently the  very  greatest  care  should  be  taken  during  those  first 
two  critical  days.  However,  the  fact  that  the  bacterium  has 
been  found  in  the  yolk  of  the  unhatched — even  of  the  unlaid 
egg — indicates  very  clearly  that  something  more  than  disinfec- 
tion is  necessary  to  stamp  out  the  disease.  Very  great  care 
should  be  exercised  in  picking  out  breeding  stock.  It  is  very 
likely  that  the  hens  which  lay  the  eggs  infected  with  the  bac- 
teria were  chicks  which  recovered  from  white  diarrhea.  The 
bacteria  still  continue  to  live  over  in  tlieir  bodies.  Every  ef- 
fort should  be  made  to  locate  and  remove  the  source  of  infec- 
tion. If  there  is  widespread  infection  on  the  farm,  eggs  for 
hatching  should  be  obtained  fmm  otlier  places  where  there  is 
little  or  nn  white  diarrhea. 

On   methods  of  preventing  and   eliminating  bacillary   white 
diarrhea  Rettger  and  Stoneburn  give  the  following. 

'Tf  tlie  disease  makes  its  appearance  among  the  flocks  of 
chicks  every  effort  should  1:)e  made  to  ascertain  the  source  of  the 
infection.  This  may  be  (a)  breeding  stock  upon  the  place, 
(  b)  eggs  for  hatching  secured  from  other  breeders,  or  (c)  newly 
hatched  chicks  purchased  from  others." 


192  rOULTRV   DISKASIiS   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

t 
"I  I  the  hrccding  stock  proves  infected  there  are  two  courses 

of  procedure  open;  (a)  market  the  entire  flock  or  refrain  from 
using  their  eggs  for  hatching,  or  (b)  install  trap  nests  in  the 
breeding  pens  and  by  means  of  accurate  pedigree  records  ascer- 
tain which  in(H\i(hial  liens  are  priMhicing  infected  chicks,  and  re- 
move such  hens  from  the  breeding  flock." 

"Since  infection  may  be  brought  upon  the  place  through  pur- 
chased eggs  or  stock,  such  purchases  should  be  made  from  farms 
where  bacillary  white  diarrhea  is  not  common." 

"If  bacillary  white  diarrhea  is  known  to  be  present  on  the 
place  steps  should  be  taken  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the  infec- 
tion, and,  if  possible,  to  effect  a  cure.  (As  to  the  latter  we  do 
not  feel  justified  in  oftcring  any  suggestions  at  this  time)." 

"Prevention.  Since  the  disease  cannot,  apparently,  be  trans- 
mitted through  the  food  supply  after  the  chicks  have  reached 
the  age  of  3  or  4  days,  every  means  should  be  pursued  to  pre- 
vent the  spread  <>f  the  infection  during  this  critical  period.  We 
suggest : 

The  segregation  of  the  chicks  in  small  lots  during  this  interval. 

Perfect  disinfection  and  cleanliness  of  brooders  and  brooder 
coops. 

Food  and  water  su{)plicd  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  con- 
tamination by  the  droppings." 

"The  use  in  the  brooder  of  a  liberal  amount  of  fine,  absorp- 
tive litter  which  will  quickly  cover  and  seal  up  the  droppings."* 

"Raise  and  maintain  the  vigor  and  vitality  of  the  breeding 
stock  and  chicks  by  every  reasonable  means  known  to  the  poul- 
tryman." 

Leg  JVeakiicss. 

The  term  "leg  weakness"  is  sometimes  used  by  poultrymen 
to  indicate  the  lameness  due  to  rheumatism  in  adult  birds.  Re- 
garding this  form  of  the  disease  see  p.  123.  The  more  usual 
use  of  the  term  "leg  weakness"  is  to  denote  a  disease  or  ailment 
v.-hich  is  found  in  growing  chicks,  from  i  month  to  6  months 
of  age.  It  is  said  to  be  more  common  among  cockerels  than  pul- 
lets and  is  more  frequent  in  the  heavier  than  the  lighter  breeds. 
The  chief  cause  of  the  trouble  seems  to  be  that  in  l)irds  growing 
ra])idly  and   fed  heavily  the  weight  sometimes  increases  faster 


*For  this  purpose  we  have  used  alfalfa  meal  with  much  satisfaction. 


ruLLTKV    DiSliASKS    AKD    THEIR    'IKKATMEXT.  193 

than  the  strength.  This  rcsuUs  in  a  weak  kneed,  wobbHng  bird. 
The  disease  is  sonK'tinics  ascribed  to  other  causes  such  as.  over- 
crowding., close,  uiucntihited  quarters,  overheating,  etc.  Sahiion 
says  "It  may  develop  in  young  chickens  kept  in  l)rooders  in  which 
the  heat  is  not  properly  distributed  or  where  there  is  too  much 
bottom  heat,  also  in  those  which  are  kept  constantly  upon 
wooden  floors."  Regarding  these  cases  Robinson  says  "Where 
such  conditions  are  presfent  the  leg  weakness  is  more  likely  to 
be  an  accompaniment  of  diseases  which  plainly  show  other  symp- 
toms." 

Diagnosis.  The  symptoms  are  indicated  in  the  name  of  the 
disease.  It  first  appears  as  an  unsteadiness  in  the  walk.  This 
may  gradually  become  worse  until  the  bird  is  unable  to  stand 
alone  and  is  constantly  tumbling  over.  The  birds  are  found  sit- 
ting while  eating  and  are  inclined  to  walk  very  little.  •  When. the 
trouble  iirst  appears  there  is  little  else  wrong  with  the  bird. 
The  eye  and  comb  are  bright  and  healthy,  the  appetite  is  good. 
Later,  however,  the  bird  being  weaker  than  the  others  gets  less 
grain  and  becomes  thin,  feathers  out  poorly  and  is  a  distressed 
object.  It  is  said  that  rheumatism  can  be  distinguished  from 
leg  weakness  by  the  swelling  of  the  joints  in  the  former  disease. 

Treatment.  This  consists  chiefly,  of  course,  in  removing  the 
cause.  Since  the  most  common  cause  is  the  overfeeding  with 
fat  producing  foods,  the  amount  of  these  should  be  reduced. 
The  weak  birds  should  be  removed  to  a  pen  by  themselves. 
Substitute  bran,  wheat  and  oatmeal  for  the  corn  and  corn  meal. 
Give  skim  milk,  if  possible,  instead  of  water.  Feed  plenty  of 
gieen  food.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  measures.  San- 
born recommends  rubbing  the  legs  with  tincture  of  arnica  and 
adding  i^  teaspoonful  of  tincture  of  nux  vomica  to  each  quart 
of  drinking  water. 

Aspergillosis  or  Pneumomycosis. 
This  disease,  which  is  discussed  on  p-  i,  not  only  occurs 
in  hens  but  it  is  also  a  very  common  and  fatal  disease  in  young 
chicks.  It  often  occurs  with  white  diarrhea  and  the  double  dis^ 
ease  was  for  a  long  time  considered  as  one.  Poultry  men  desig- 
nated the  cases  in  which  the  lesions  occurred  in  the  lungs  as 
"lungers."  Investigation  has  shown  that  there  are  two  diseases 
which  may  occur  separately  or  together. 


194  iviri/rm    I)1Si:asi:s  and  'iiiI'IK    i'ki'.at.mivNT. 

Pia(/nosis.  This  disease  is  characterized  by  a  (hinii)ish  sleepv 
C(>ii(htii)n  of  the  cliick.  'J'he  witigs  are  ])en(hilent.  IJreathing 
is  rapid  and  sometimes  accompanied  by  snoring  sounils.  A 
whitish  (harrhca  is  present.  A  (Hfferential  tHagnosis  between 
thi>  and  the  coccicHal  wliite  (harrliea  is  onlv  possil)le  liv  an  ex- 
amination of  the  dead  birds.  In  asi)ergillosis.  yellowish  tnl)er- 
cle.s  which  closely  resemble  those  of  tuberculosis  occur  in  the 
lungs  and  in  the  walls  of  the  air  sacs  and  often  also  in  tlie  intes- 
tines, mesentery,  liver  and  other  organs.  In  very  acute  cases 
the  lungs  are  simply  inflamed,  death  occurring  before  the  forma- 
tion of  the  tubercles.  The  mycelium  and  spores  of  the  fungus 
may  be  found  by  microscopic  examination  of  the  tubercles  and 
this  fungus  may  be  obtained  by  inoculating  cultures  from  these 
tubercles. 

Etiology.  The  disease  is  caused  by  the  spores  of  an  Asper- 
gillus usually  A.  fmuigatus,  fig.  22.  This  is  a  very  common 
fungus  and  the  spores  are  widely  distributed  in  nature.  The 
spores  are  often  found  on  the  food  or  on  the  litter  and  are 
inhaled  or  taken  in  with  the  food.  Incubator  chickens  are 
often  infected  from  the  incubators  and  brooders  and  hen  hatched 
chickens  from  the  straw  or  chaff  in  the  nests.  Sometimes  the 
chicks  get  the  disease  from  chick  food  not  properly  cared  for. 
It  is  possible  that  this  disease  as  well  as  the  coccidial  and  Ijacil- 
lary  white  diarrhea  is  sometimes  carried  in  the  egg.  The  spores 
and  mycelium  are  often  found  in  the  digestive  tract  of  hens 
and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  they  may  work  up  the  oviduct  from 
the  cloaca  and  infect  an  egg  before  it  gets  its  shell. 

Treatment.  The  treatment  of  diseased  chicks  is  useless. 
When  they  are  infected  the  spores  develop  on  the  membranes 
and  new  spores  are  formed  which  spread  the  infection  through- 
out the  respiratory  system  and  also  to  the  other  organs.  The 
only  effective  treatment  is  prevention.  Keeping  the  flock  under 
good  hygienic  conditions  with  clean  food,  litter  and  nesting  ma- 
terial reduces  the  chance  of  infection  and  keeps  the  chicks  in  a 
vigorous  condition  in  which  they  are  able  to  resist  the  disease. 
The  dead  chicks  should  be  burned  or  buried. 

Prognosis.     The  disease  is  fatal  so  far  as  known. 

Emphysema. 

This  name  is  applied  by  Robinson  to  a  disease  of  young  chicks 
in  which  the  skin  puffs  out  in  the  sides  of  the  neck  near  its 


I'ori.TRv  i)isi"..\si;s  and   riii:iK   tki-.atm  i:xt.  195 

juncture  with  the  body.  'I'he  size  of  the  putY  varies  somewhat. 
In  mild  cases  it  is  about  the  size  of  a  hickory  nut.  Sometimes 
there  is  one  puff,  sometimes  several.  A  few  cases  have  been 
reported  '"where  the  puffing  covers  nearly  the  wdK)le  body,  the 
skin  of  the  chick  being  so  inflated  that  locomotion  becomes  dif- 
ficult."     (Robinson). 

According  to  \'ale  the  trouble  generally  occurs  in  growing 
chicks  which  have  been  confined  in  close  quarters.  It  is  often 
associated  with  s(Mne  lung  trouble.  It  seems  to  be  due  to  ob- 
struction of  the  air  passages  and  the  rupture  of  some  of  the  air 
sacs.  The  air  thus  escapes  into  the  tissues  beneath  the  skin. 
While  not  common  this  disease  does  occur  in  Maine.  Some 
cases  were  reported  to  the  Station  while  this  work  was  in  i)rcp- 
aration. 

The  treatment  suggested  by  \"ale  is  to  puncture  the  skin  with 
a  needle  and  to  give  2  grains  nitrate  of  iron  to  each  wine  glassful 
of  drinking  water.  Robinson,  however,  says:  "It  is  rather  to 
be  recommended  that  no  effort  be  made  to  treat  such  chicks. 
Even  if  cured  of  the  trouble,  they  rarely  develop  satisfactorily." 

Gapes. 

Gapes  is  a  disease  which  attacks  domestic  poultry  and  many 
species  of  wild  birds.  In  fowls  it  is  more  frequently  observed 
in  young  chicks.  It  occurs  also  in  adult  fowls  but  rarely  causes 
enough  inconvenience  to  attract  attention.  The  disease  is  due 
to  the  presence  of  minute  parasitic  worms  in  the  air  passages. 

Diagnosis.  "The  symptoms  of  gapes  are  frequent  gai)ing. 
sneezing,  a  whistling  cough  with  discharge  of  mucus  and  worms, 
dumpishness.  weakness  and  drooping  wings.  When  badly  af- 
fected, the  bird  shakes  its  head  frequently,  gapes  and  coughs  as 
if  suff'ocating,  droops  and  is  not  able  to  keep  up  with  the  rest 
of  the  flock,  and  stands  in  "dumpish"  position  with  eyes  closed, 
wings  drooped,  mouth  open  and  tongue  protruding."  (Woods, 
Rel.   Poult.  Rem.) 

The  correctness  of  a  diagnosis  for  gapes  should  be  tested  by 
determining  whether  or  not  the  worms  are  present  in  the  tra- 
chea. \\'hen  chicks  are  dying  from  a  disease  supposed  to  be 
gapes  the  trachea  of  a  dead  bird  may  be  examined.  If  the  trou- 
ble is  gapes  the  worms  will  be  found  attached  in  pairs  to  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  trachea. 


196 


I'ori/rKV   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT, 


Fig.  47.     Trachea   (windpipe)    of 
a     pheasant      showing     gape 
worms    ('Syngaiiiits     tracheal  is) 
attached  to   the    mucous   mem- 
brane.    (After    Megnin). 


3 


Fig.  48.  A  pair  of 
Syiigamits  trache- 
alis.    attached. 
(After    ]\Iegnin). 


The  two  sexes  are  joined  together  in  such  a  way  that  a  pair 
looks  Hke  a  double  headed  worm.  The  female  is  about  3^  inch 
long  and  the  male  about  1-5  inch.  The  worms  are  pale  in  color 
when  empty  luit  when  they  have  been  feeding  they  are  red  with 
the  blood  of  the  chick.  The  presence  of  the  worms  in  the  tra- 
chea of  a  living  chick  may  be  demonstrated  by  passing  a  gape 
worm  extractor  (a  loop  of  horse  hair  or  fine  wire  or  a  feather 
with  the  vane  removed  except  at  the  tip)  carefully  down  the 
trachea  for  some  distance  turning  it  around  to  loosen  the  worms 
and  drawing  it  out.  If  the  worms  are  present  some  will  be 
removed  with  the  extractor. 


POULTKV    DiSKASKS    AND    THKIK    TKl-AT  M  F.NT.  IQ/ 


* 


"P 


7 


Fig.    JQ.     A    pair   of   Syiigainus    tnu-hcalis.     A,    iiialo.     B,    female. 

(After  Megnin). 


\C)><  I'dn.TKV    DISKASKS    AM)    TIIKIK    TKKAT.M  KNT. 

The  presence  of  the  worms  causes  an  irritation  and  inflamma- 
tion of  till'  nKiuhrane  and  stimulates  the  secretion  of  mucus. 
Some  (if  the  accumulation  of  worms  and  mucus  Is  expelled  by 
couj,diing.  Sometimes  jiart  of  it  is  swallowed  and  expelled  with 
the  feces.  The  loosened  material  may  be  drawn  into  the  deeper 
air  passages  during  inspiration.  Death  may  occur  from  suffo- 
cation i\ue  to  the  obstruction  of  the  air  passages  with  worms  and 
mucus,  or  weak  individuals  may  die  fn^m  loss  of  blood. 

Etiology.  The  only  cause  of  the  disease  is  the  nematode  or 
thread  worm  Syngamus  traclicalis  Siebold,  called  the  gape  worm, 
red  worm,  or  forked  worm.  (  See  figs.  47  to  49).  These  para- 
sites obtain  their  nourishment  by  sucking  the  blood  from  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  trachea.  They  are  attached  in  pairs 
to  the  membrane  by  their  sucker-like  mouths.  Beside  bringing 
about  a  considerable  loss  of  blood  the  worms  cause  irritation  and 
inflari'iiation  of  the  membrane  and  a  copious  secretion  of  mucus. 
The  Ivvo  sexes  are  .so  closely  attached  to  each  other  that  they 
can  not  l)e  separated  without  tearing.  The  body  of  an  adult 
female  is  swollen  with  thousands  of  eggs  and  occasionally  con- 
tains some  embryos.  The  eggs  are  not  laid  but  escape  when  the 
Ixidy  of  tlie  female  is  ruptured.  This  may  take  place  with  the 
decomposition  of  tlie  worm  or  the  body  may  be  torn  In-  the 
coughing  of  the  bird.  The  eggs  may  develop  and  grow  to 
adult  worms  within  the  trachea  of  the  same  bird.  The  worms. 
cgg^  and  embryos  are  often  coughed  up.  Sometimes  they  are 
swallowed  and  then  some  of  the  eggs  and  embryos  may  be  passed 
with  the  feces.  Tlie  worms  coughed  up  are  eagerly  eaten  by 
the  same  or  other  birds  and  the  ova  and  embryos  are  often  taken 
with  contaminated  food  and  (h-ink.  Developing  embryos  have 
been  found  in  earth  wcirnis  living  in  infected  -poultry  yards, 
and  tliese  will  cause  gapes  if  fed  to  chicks. 

The  eggs  and  embryos  need  only  warmth  and  moisture  to 
develop.  Eggs  may  develop  in  the  digestive  organs.  It  is  not 
known  hf)w  the  embryos  reach  the  trachea  from  the  digestive 
organs.  A  large  number  of  those  eaten  never  reach  the  tra- 
chea but  are  either  digested  or  voided  with  the  feces.  Salmon 
says :  "Although  there  are  some  thousands  of  eggs  in  the  adult 
worms.  10  to  15  worms  liave  l)een  fed  to  a  single  chicken,  and, 
as  a  result,  not  over  4  or  5  embryos  would  reach  and  develop 
in  the  trachea."  According  to  Theobald.  Elder  found  copulated 
worms  where  several  of  the  females  were  full  of  worms  10  days 


POrU'KV    DISEASES    AND    TIIKIK    TKKAT M  !•  XT.  199 

after  feeding  ova  to  healthy  chicks.  Wet  clay  soils  are  especial- 
ly favorable  to  the  gape  worms,  and  they  thrive  best  in  warm, 
wet  weather. 

Treatment.  In  eradicating  the  disease  it  is  important  to  iso- 
late all  affected  birds  so  that  the  worms  and  ova  coughed  up  or 
voided  with  the  excrement  may  not  be  eaten  by  the  other  chicks 
or  contaminate  the  food,  ch'ink,  and  the  ground  of  the  runs, 
r.urn  the  bodies  or  at  least  the  heads  and  necks  of  all  dead  birds. 
The  feed  troughs  and  water  dishes  should  be  scalded  and  the 
houses,  and  coops  disinfected.  Use  potassium  permanganate 
in  the  drinking  water.  If  possible  provide  fresh  runs  on  which 
there  has  been  no  poultry  for  several  years.  The  following  par- 
agraph from  Robinson  is  much  to  the  point: 

••  Preventive  treatment  to  be  fully  effective,  seems  to  require 
that  fowls  be  kept  away  from  infected  ground  for  several  sea- 
sons. It  is  said  that  ground  from  which  poultry  is  kept  for 
three  years,  tlie  land  meanwhile  being  sown  to  grass  or  culti- 
vated, will  be  entire]}-  free  from  the  gape  worm.  To  a  poultry 
keeper  whose  area  of  land  is  small  this  means  moving  or  keep- 
ing no  poultrv  for  several  years.  Where  land  is  abundant  gape 
worms  can  often  be  avoided  by  moving  tlie  poultry  to  a  plot  not 
recently  occupied  l)v  them.  Treatment  to  disinfect  the  soil  by 
destroxing  tlie  gape  worms  in  it.  the  object  being  to  continue  the 
poultr\-  on  it.  is  not  often  profitable." 

The  following  methods  have  l)een  recommended  for  disinfect- 
ing the  ground.  It  is  doubtful  if  these  are  economically  advis- 
able. 

Treating  the  ground  with  air  slaked  lime  and  spading. 

Sprinkling  with  one  of  the  following  solutions: 

1  ])er  cent  or  2  per  cent  suli)huric  acid. 

2  ounces  of  copperas  dissolved  in  a  pail  of  water. 

^  ounce  of  crystals  of  potassium  ])ermanganate  to  a  l)ar- 
rel  of  water. 

Tbe  lime  or  acid  treatments  are  most  often  recommended. 
The  infected  birds  should  be  kept  in  houses  easily  cleaned  and 
flisinfected  and  this  should  be  done  frequently  to  prevent  re- 
infection of  tlie  recovering  birds.  Theoljald  advises  an  adclition 
of  3  drams  of  salicylate  of  soda  to  each  (juart  of  drinking  wa- 
ter to  destroy  eggs  and  eml)ryos  that  may  contaminate  it. 

The  individual  surgical  method  ma\-  I)e  profitably  ])racticed 
in  some  cases.     It  seems  to  l)e  tlu-  onlv  sure  method  vet  ad- 


200  rOULTRV    DISEASES    AND    Til  I.IK    TKl'.AT  M  KNT. 

vised  of  ridding  an  infested  bird  of  the  parasites.  \\'ri,i,dit  gives 
the  following  description  of  the  method: 

"The  old-fashioned  cure  was  to  strip  a  small  quill-feather,  all 
but  a  small  tuft  at  the  point,  and  (moistening  it  in  turpentine 
or  not)  introduce  it  into  the  trachea,  turn  it  round,  and  withdraw 
ii  with  the  worms.  This  is  effectual,  but  requires  care  to  pre- 
vent lacerating  the  wind-pipe  or  causing  suffocation.  In  this 
\vay  30  worms  have  been  successfully  extracted  from  one 
chicken.  A  very  much  better  method  is  to  take  two  straight 
hairs  from  a  horse's  tail,  laid  together,  tie  a  knot  on  the  end  of 
the  pair,  and  cut  ofif  the  ends  close  to  the  knot.  This  is  passed 
straight  (i.  e..  without  twisting)  down  the  windpipe  as  far  as 
it  will  go  without  iDcnding.  then  twisted  between  the  finger  and 
thumb  and  drawn  out.  A  trial  or  two  may  miss,  but  usually  5 
or  6  attempts  will  Ijring  up  4  or  5  worms,  and  the  hairs  inserted 
in  this  way.  without  twisting,  do  not  seem  to  hurt  the  chicks,  and 
are  used  with  the  greatest  facilit}-.  The  bringing  up  of  even 
from  4  to  10  worms,  and  the  failure  of  more  to  come  after  a 
blank  trial  or  two,  may  usually  be  reckoned  as  a  cure." 

Wire  gape  worm  extractors  may  be  bought  from  dealers  in 
poultry  supplies,  or  one  can  make  one  for  himself  by  taking  No. 
30  wire,  forming  a  loop  at  one  end  just  big  enough  to  go  easily 
down  the  trachea,  and  then  twisting  together  the  ends  of  the 
wire  to  form  a  long  handle.     Worms  removed  should  be  burned. 

Prognosis.  This  disease  is  often  fatal  in  young  chicks  from 
one  to  four  weeks  old,  especially  in  small  weak  birds.  Young 
chicks  and  in  most  adult  fowls  it  often  causes  little  inconven- 
ience. These  fowls,  however,  are  constant  sources  of  infec- 
tion. The  removal  of  the  w^orms  from  the  trachea  if  skilfully 
done  so  that  the  delicate  membrane  is  not  injured  usually  effects 
a  cure  but  this  individual  treatment  requires  considerable  time 
and  the  value  of  the  chicks  must  determine  whether  or  not  it 
is  economically  profitable. 


CHAPTER   XX. 


Poultry  Surgery. 

It  is  proposed  to  consider  in  this  section  those  pathological 
conditions  of  poultry  which  demand  surgical  treatment  lor  their 
cure.  At  the  outstart  it  should  be  said  inat  poultry  bear  and 
recover  from  surgical  operations  very  well.  The  common  prac- 
tice of  caponizing,  usually  done  without  any  aseptic  precaution 
whatever  and  with  small  losses  from  infection,  is  sufficient  evi- 
dence of  this.  Probably  no  mammal  would  bear  opening  the 
abdominal  cavity  (which  is  done  is  every  caponizing  operation) 
with  such  entire  and  nearly  uniform  freedom  from  ill  effects  as 
attends  this  operation  with  poultry.  The  reason  why  poultry 
make  such  excellent  surgical  subjects  lies  in  their  marked 
resistance  to  all  pyogenic  (pus  producing)  germs. 

77/ 1'  Treatment  of  Cuts,  Tears  and  .111  Open  Wounds. 

\'ery  severe  wounds  may  be  successfully  treated  l)y  adher- 
ing to  the  following  procedure  : 

1.  Thoroughly  wash  the  hands  in  warm  water,  using  plenty 
of  soap,  before  handling  the  wounds  at  all.  After  the  hands 
have  been  well  scrublted.  rinse  them  thoroughly  in  a  pan  of  I 
to  looo  bichloride  of  mercury  solution  (p.  29)  and  dry  with 
a  clean  towel. 

2.  Tul]  out  the  feathcr>  in  the  region  ai'ouiid  llie  wound,  and 
thoroughly  elean-e  it,  using  first  ^earin  leater.  and  folJDW  tin's 
with  -cearin  i  to  woo  hiehloride  solution.  A  ])iece  of  clean  soft 
cloth  ma}-  be  used  for  this  purpose,  or  absorljcnt  cotton.  Make 
sure  that  tlie  wound  is  tlioroiiglily  clean.  Do  not  be  afraid  of 
hurtin'4  the  liird.  .\  little  jiain  at  tlie  start  i>  jireferable  to  a 
dead  liird   later. 

3.  if  necessary  sew  up  the  wound,  u>ing  a  good  sized  sewing 
needle  and  silk.  IJoth  needle  and  silk  should  be  soaked  in  al- 
coliol  tor  15  minutes  before  using.  Small  wounds  need  not  be 
sewed.  Large  ones  will  heal  much  (|uirker  an  1  more  certainly 
if  tliev  arc  sewed.     If  ilie  wound  involves  tlie  muscles  as  well 


202  POULTRY    DISEASES    AND    THKIR    TREATMENT. 

a<  the  skin  m-w  it  up  in  two  layers:  one  set  of  stitches  including' 
(•nl\  the  nm^cKs,  ilu'  (iilur  set  only  the  skin. 

4.  I'aint  the  skin  in  the  region  ahoul  the  wound,  but  nut  the 
■:^'(>iiiui  itsrif  with  dilute  tincture  of  iodine. 

5.  I'owder  the  wound  well  with  iodoform. 

6.  Smear  a  thick  laver  of  the  ointment  already  recommended 
(p.   30)   over  all. 

7.  If  the  wound  is  very  severe  l)andai;"e  it  with  a  clean 
cloth. 

The  ahove  treatment  is  only  necessary  in  its  entirety  in  very 
severe  cases.  Depending  upon  the  gravity  of  the  condition  the 
following  items  in  the  treatment  may  he  omitted  in  the  order 
named  : 

7  may  he  omitted  except  in  most  serious  cases. 

7  and  3  may  he  omitted  in  less  severe  cases. 

7.  3  and  4  may  he  omitted  in  still  less  severe  cases. 

7.  3.  4,  and  I  ma\'  l)e  omitted  in  still  less  severe  cases. 

In  case  of  slight  wounds  which  ai)pear  still  to  demand  some 
treatment  6  and  1  or  even  6  alone  will  sufifice. 

Abscess. 

Should  an  abscess  appear  lance  it  witli  a  clean  sharp  knife, 
making  sure  to  cut  to  the  bottom.  Squeeze  out  the  i)us  and  core 
if  there  is  one.  and  then  proceed  to  heal  it  l)y  following  the 
treatment  above  outlined  for  woimds  in  general. 

humblcjoot. 

This  is  an  al)scess  of  the  foot  which  niav  result  from  a  variety 
of  causes,  e.  g..  too  high  roosts,  too  narrow  roosts,  undiscovered 
wounds  caused  by  stepping  on  nails,  splinters  of  glass,  etc.  Tt 
is  usually  not  discovered  until  the  bird  ])ecomes  lame. 

The  best  treatment  to  follow  is  first  to  tie  a  cord  tightly  about 
the  kg  al)ove  the  foot  to  control  the  flow  of  blood;  then  with  a 
ciraii.  narrow  bladed.  sharp  knife  oi)en  up  the  abscess  thorough- 
ly. Go  clear  to  the  bottom  and  dig  out  the  core.  Then  follow 
///  detail,  omitting  iiafhing  iwcrpt  ;.  the  treatment  given  above 
for  wounds.  Two  days  after  the  first  treatment  take  off  the 
bandages  and  r(.])eat  the  treatment,  going  through  in  order  steps. 
I.  2.  4.  5.  6  and  7.  In  some  ca.ses  a  third  treatment  after  a  lapse 
of  2  or  3  days  may  be  necessary,  but  usually  not  if  the  first  treat- 
ment is  thorough. 


rOULTRV    DlSIiASES    AND    TIIKIK    TRKATMENT.  203 

Of  course  the  bird  under  treatment  should  be  isolated  and 
kept  in  a  small  pen  with  -oft  litter  on  the  floor. 

Broken  Bo)ics. 

If  a  bird  is  sufficiently  valuable  to  warrant  the  trouble  it  is 
possible  to  set  fractures  of  the  long  bones  of  legs  and  wings,  and 
o-et  successful  union.  A  splint  should  be  made  for  the  affected 
part  and  carefully  and  thoroughly  bound  into  place.  Healing 
is  rapid,  and  it  should  be  possible  to  remove  the  splints  in  three 
weeks  from  the  time  they  are  put  on  if  not  before.  In  our  ex- 
perience firm  union  has  occurred  in  less  time  than  this. 

Fro::cn  Combs  and  Wattles. 

In  northern  parts  of  the  country  frozen  wattles  and  combs, 
especiallv  in  niale  l)irds.  are  very  common  occurrences.  The 
trouble  is  more  apt  to  be  with  the  wattles  than  the  comb,  be- 
cause the  former  dip  into  the  drinking  water  and  then  freeze  at 
times  wlien  if  dry.  they  would  not  do  so. 

The  following  brief  but  adequate  directions  for  treating 
frozen  combs  and  wattles  are  taken  from  Farm  Poultry,  Vol. 
15.  \).  41  :  "First  thaw  the  wattles  or  combs  out  by  manipulat- 
ing with  the  fingers  well  smeared  with  vaseline.  Keep  the  bird 
in  a  cool  (  not  cold  )  ]:)lace,  and  anoint  the  frozen  parts  with  a 
mixture  of  vaseline.  5  tablespoonfuls ;  glycerine.  2  tablespoon- 
fuls ;  turpentine,  one  tablespoonful.  once  or  twice  a  day.  If  he 
is  not  verv  badlv  fro-ted  it  probably  will  make  no  dift'erence 
with  his  breeding  a  few  months  from  now — {provided  he  is  not 
again  injured  the  same  way." 

Aticsthcticina;  Poultry. 

From  time  to  time  re(|uests  come  to  the  Station  for  informa- 
tion regarding  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  anaesthetizing 
birds.  (  )n  this  account  it  seems  desirable  to  republish  the  fol- 
lowing material  extracted  from  a  j^aper  written  some  time  ago 
liy  K.  Pearl  and  Frank  M.  Surface  on  this  subject  (Jour.  Amer. 
.Med.  Asso..  \'o\.  ^2.  pp.   t^^2  and  383). 

■'The  difficulty  which  we  have  found  to  be  inherent  in  anes- 
thetizing the  domestic  fowl  may  be  stated  briefly  in  this  way: 
If  any  anesthetic  is  pushed  to  the  point  at  which  the  bird  is  in 
satisfactory  condition  for  operative  ])rocedure  in  about  9  cases 
out  of   10  the  bird  will  die  on  the  table  from  the  effects  of  the 


204  rUULTRV    DISEASES    AMJ    TIIIJK    TREATMENT. 

anesthesia  helDie  the  ()i)erati(jii.  if  extensive,  can  be  completed. 
If.  on  the  other  hanel,  the  anesthetic  is  given  less  freely  the  bird 
does  not  lose  its  reflex  excitability.  Every  time  a  cut  is  made  or 
a  nerve  is  ])inched  with  the  forceps  the  bird  will  struggle.  Our 
experience  in  anesthetizing  birds,  which  has  now  covered  a  large 
number  of  individuals,  leads  us  to  believe  that  the  only  middle 
ground  between  these  two  extremes  is  afforded  l)y  those  cases 
(unfortunately  too  few)  in  which  the  individual  idiosyncrasy  of 
the  bird  toward  ether  makes  it  take  the  anesthetic  well. 

\\  hile  we  have  made  no  detailed  physiologic  study  as  to  the 
fundamental  reasons  underlying  this  difficulty  respecting  anes- 
thesia which  has  been  described,  it  seems  reasonably  apparent 
what  these  reasons  are.  Connected  witli  the  respiratory  organs 
proper  of  a  bird  are  the  relatively  enormous  air  sacs.  During 
anesthesia  the  ether  or  chloroform  vapor  gets  into  these  air  sacs 
either  by  diffusion  or  directly  as  a  result  of  respiratory  move- 
ments. There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  vapor,  once  in  the 
air  sacs,  stays  there  until  it  is  absorbed  by  the  tissues ;  in  other 
words,  it  appears  to  be  the  case  that  the  great  bulk  of  an  inhaled 
anesthetic  in  the  case  of  birds  must  l)e  eliminated  from  the  body 
by  way  of  the  urinary  organs  rather  than  the  respiratory  or- 
gans. Assuming  this  to  be  the  case  there  is  no  difficulty  in  see- 
ing why  forcing  an  anesthetic  in  a  l)ir(l  leads  to  disastrous  re- 
sults. The  relatively  enormous  area  for  absorption  afforded  by 
the  air  sacs  insures  that  a  correspondingly  large  amount  of  the 
anesthetic  will  be  taken  up  very  quickly.  This  almost  imme- 
diately affects  the  vagus  center,  with  the  consequent  cardiac 
inhibition,  respiratory   failure  and  death. 

The  exact  method  of  procedure  which  we  now  follow  in  an- 
esthetizing birds  is  as  follows :  Immediately  before  beginning 
the  administration  of  the  anesthetic  a  1-200  grain  atropin  sul- 
phate tablet  is  dissolved  in  t  c.  c.  of  warm  normal  saline  solu- 
tion. The  salt  solution  witli  the  dissolved  atropin  is  then  in- 
jected .subcutaneou.'^ly  in  the  axilla.  Ether  is  used  as  the  anes- 
thetic. It  is  administered  from  a  small  improvised  mask  which 
admits  of  the  condition  of  the  comb  being  seen  during  the  opera- 
tion. Depending  on  how  hard  the  ether  is  pushed,  the  bird  is 
ready  for  operation  in  from  15  to  20  minutes  after  the 
anesthesia  is  begun.  The  dosage  of  1-200  grain  atropin  to  a 
birfl  may  seem  large,  but  we  have  never  been  able  to  see  the 
slightest  bad  effect  from  it,  provided  the  administration  of  ether 
was  begim  immediately  after  the  injection  of  fhe  atropin." 


Glossary  oi'  Technicai,  Tkr.ms. 


Abdomen.— That  portion  of  ihc  body  which  contains  tlie  internal  or-- 
gans.     Belly. 

Air  ^ar.— One  of  the  membranous  sacs  filled  with  air  in  different  parts 
of  the  body,  especially  in  the  abdominal  region. 
They  often  extend  into  the  cavities  of  the  bones 
and   connect   with   the    lungs. 

Albumen  portion  of  oviduct. — See  p.  157. 

Anaemia.— A  condition  in  which  the  blood  is  deficient  either  in  quality 
or  quantity.  It  is  marked  by  paleness  and  loss  of 
energy. 

Anns. — The   external   opening  o.f  the   intestine.     Vent. 

Apathetic. — Lacking  in  feeling  or  ambition.     Indifferent. 

Arachnida. — A  class  of  invertebrate  animals  including  among  other 
groups  the  spiders,  scorpions  and  mites. 

Articular. — Pertaining  to  the  joints. 

Astringent. — Causing    contraction   and    arresting    discharges. 

Atony. — Lack  of  normal  tone  or  strength.  , ,  ■  .. 

Atrophy.— A  wasting  of  diminution  of  the  size  of  r.  part. 

Auditory  meatus. — The  opening  into  the  eai. 

Avian. — Pertaining  to  birds. 

Axilla. — The  region  under  the  wing  where  the  latter  joins  the  body. 

Bile. — The  substance  secreted  by  the  liver.     Gall. 

Bronchi. — The  tubes  which  lead  from  the  end  of  the  windpipe  (trachea) 
to  the  two  lungs,    (of.  fig.   12). 

Carcino)na. — A  malignant  tumor  or  cancer. 

Catheter. — A  tubular  surgical  instrument  for  discharging  fluids  from  a 
cavity  of  the  body  or  for  distending  a  passage. 

Cecum   {plural  ccca). — A' blind  intestinal  pouch  of  which  there  are  two 
.in  the,. fowl. 

Cell. — The  smallest  element  of  an  organized  body  that  manifests  inde- 
pendent vital  activities.  A  morphological  or,  struc- 
tural  unit  of  an  organism. 

Chronic. — Long  continued  but  not  acute. 

Cleavage. — The  division  of  the  cells  of  an  embryo. 

Cloaca. — The  enlarged  portion  of  the  alimentary  canal  just  before  the 
vent.  The  intestine,  the  ureters  (tubes  from  the 
kidneys)    and   the   oviduct   open    into  the   cloaca. 

Conjunctiva. — The  delicate  membrane  that  linc^  the  eyelids  and  covers 
the  eveball  in   front. 


2qC)  vk\v\:\\<\    1)1Si:.\si:s   and    rni:iK   tkk atmknt. 

Contatiious.     A    disease    wliicli   is   ct)iniminical)lc   by   direct   contact. 

Copulation. — Sexual    intorcoiirsc.     With    fowls   "treading." 

Cornea. — The  hard  transparent  striictuii'  forming  tlie  anterior  part  of 
the    eyeball. 

(.»■(•<'//». — .A  thick  black  li(|ui(l  cual  tar  preparation.  It  has  anli>eptic 
properties. 

Cresol. — .K   coal    tar   product    with    antiseptic   and   germicidal   properties. 

Cyst. — A  sac-like  growth  which  usually  contains  a  liciuid  or  a  semi-solid. 

1  >cinulccHt. — A  soothing  nnicilaginous  or  oily  medicine. 

Dermoid  cyst. — A  form  of  congenital  cyst  often  containing  skin-like 
structures. 

Diuretic. — A  medicine  that  increases  the  activity  of  the  kidneys. 

licchymoscs  fek-kim-o-ses ). — Discoloration  of  the  skin  caused  by  blood 
outside  of  the  blood   vessels  as  in  a  bruise. 

Emaciated. — Very  lean   or   wasted  condition   of  the  body. 

F.iiema.     A  liquid  injection   in  the  rectum  or  cloaca. 

l:iitcritis. — InHammation  of  the  intestine.  In  human  me  Heine  confined 
chietly  to  the  small   intestine. 

Epidemic. — A  disease  that  is  widely  prevalent  in  a  community  or  locality. 

Epidermis. — The  outer  or  non-vascular  layer  of  the   skin.     The  cuticle. 

Epitlielioina. — .\  cancer  or  malignant  tumor  consisting  chiefly  of  cells 
derived  from  the  skin  or  mucous  nieml)rane. 

Epithcliuin. — The  covering  or  outer  layer  of  the  skin  and  mucous  mem- 
branes. 

Ergot. — .\  fungus  which  affects  and  finally  replaces  the  seed  of  a  cereal 
grass.  Used  chiefly  in  connection  with  the  ergot  of 
rye  which  is  poisonous  to  poultry.  Ergot  as  a  drug 
has  the  property  of  causing  the  mammalian  uterus 
to  contract. 

Etiology. — The   causation   of  an\-   disease. 

Exudate. — A  substance  thrown  out  of  the  body  or  deposited  in  a  tissue 
by  a   vital   process. 

Feces. — The  excrement  or  undigested  residue  of  tlic  food  discharged 
from   the   intestines.     Dung.     Droppings. 

Flagellate  micro-organism. — .Any  minute  microscopic  organism  which 
swims  through  the  water  iy  means  of  the  lashing 
of    one    or    more    hair-like    structures     (flagella). 

Follicle. — See  p.   157. 

Gall  bladder. — The  reservoir  for  the  bile  or  gall  secreted  by  the  liver. 
It  is  readily  seen  on  the  ui)per   side  of  the  liver. 

Callus   domesticus.— The    scientific   name    for   the    domestic    fowl. 

Gangrene.—Scc   p.    174.     Gangrene  of  oviduct. 

Gastritis. — Inflammation   of  the  stomach. 

Hermaphrodite. — .\n  organism  which  has  both  male  and  female  re- 
productive organs. 

Hemorrhage. — Bleeding.     A  copious  escape  of  blood   from  the   vessels. 

Hepatic. — Pertaining  to  the   liver. 

Hyperaemia.     Excess   of  blood   in   any  part  of   the  body. 


roULTKV    DlSKASliS    AND    TllKHi    TKliAT.MliNT.  20/ 

Hypcrtrol'hy. — Tlu-    inorl)iil   ciilar^cnu-nt    or  overgrowth  of  an  organ   or 

part. 
/»/;;n(>;;7v.— Security  against   any  particular  disease. 
Infection. — The    transmission    of    (li>ea>e    from    one    animal    to    another 

usually   through    some   intermediate  agent. 
Jufi!tration.—T\w    accunuilation    in   a    ti>sue   of    substances    not    normally 

found  in  it. 
Inoculation. — The   insertion  of  a  virus  into  a   wound   or  abrasion  in   the 

skin  in  order  to  conununicate  a  disease. 
Jstlnntis. — See   p.    158. 

Keratitis. — Intlamation   of  the   cornea   of  the  eye. 
Larva. — The    first    stage   in    development    after    leaving    the    egg.      Used 

in  connection  with   insects,  worms,  etc. 
Larynx. — .A    nuiscular   and    cartilaginous    structure    situated    at   the   base 
of   the    tongue    and    connecting   with    tl'e    windpipe 
(trachea).      It    is   the   organ   of   voice. 
Lesion. — Any   hurt,  wound  or  U)cal   degeneration. 
Leucocytes. — White  blood  corpuscles. 

Lymphatic.     Pertaining   to  or  containing  lymph   which   is   a   transparent 
slightly  yellow  liciuid  which  fills  the  lymphatic  ves- 
sels.    It  corresponds  in  some  respects  to  the  serum 
or   liquid   portion    of   the   lilood. 
Main))ial. — Any   vertebrate  animal   which   suckles  its  young. 
Mela>iosis. — Pertaining   to    an   abnormal    deposit   of    pigment. 
Mesentery. — The  fold  of  peritoneum  attached  to  the  intestines. 
Metamorphosis. — In  insects  the  change  from  larval  to  adult  form  as  from 

caterpillar  to  butterfly. 
Micro-organism. — Any    minute    (microscopic)    animal    or    plant.      Often 

used  in  referring  to  bacteria  or  germs. 
Mite. — A  small  arthropod  somewhat  related  to  spiders.     (Cf.  fig.  31). 
Mucosa. — The   mucous  membrane. 

Mucous  membrane. — The   lining  of  the   internal   cavities  of  the  body. 
Mucus. — The  viscid  secretion  of  certain    (mucous)    glands. 
Mycelium. — The  thread-like  portion  of  a  fungus.     (Cf.  fig.  38). 
Nacreous. — Resembling  mother-of-pearl. 
Necrotic. — Pertaining   to   dead  or   decaying  tissue. 
N^ucleus   (Pi.  nuclei). — A  spherical  body  within  a  cell.     The  nucleus  is 

essential  to  the  life  of  the  cell. 
Oesophagus. — That  portion  of  the  alimentary  canal   between   the  mouth 

(pharynx)    and  the  crop. 
Oral. — Pertaining  to  the  mouth. 

Ovary. — The  female  sexual  organ  in  which  the  eggs  develop. 
Oviduct. — The  tube  through  which  the  egg  passes  from  the  ovary  to  the 

cloaca. 
Ovum.    Cplural   ova). — The     egg.      i)articnlarly      while     on      the     ovary. 

(Cf.  fig.  40).  ' 

Panophthalmia. — Inflammation  of  all  the  structures  or  tissue  of  the  eye. 
Papilla. — A  small  nipple   shaped  elevation. 

Pathology. — That  branch  of  medicine  which  treats  especially  of  the  tissue 
changes  caused  by  disease. 


208  I'Ol-LTkY    DlSlilASES    AND    THEIR    TREATMENT. 

Pcriciiniiuiii. — The   imMuhraiKms   sac  wliicli  contains  tlic  licart. 

l'cvisUilsis.~'V\\v  worm-like  movements  of  the  intestine  and  oviduct  by 
whicli   the  contents  of  these  tubes  are  propelled. 

/'.'ri7(»;///i\!r.--Inlianimatinn  of  the  peritoneum  i>r  the  membrane  lining  the 
abdominal  cn\  i;.v. 

/'//</rv».r.— That  prirtinn  of  the  alimentary  canal  between  the  mouth  and 
the  oesophagrs.  It  also  eommunicatc:;  with  the 
larynx  and  nasal  passages  at  its  upper  end. 

Prognosis.— "Vh'  prospect  as  to  recovery  from  a  disease  or  a  forecast 
as  to  the  probable  result  of  an  attack  of  a  disease. 

Protoplasin. — .V  viscid  granular  material  which  forms  the  essential  con- 
stituent of  tlic  living  cell.     Living  substance. 

Protozoa. — A  class  of  unicellular   animal   micro-organisms. 

Provciitriculus.— That  portion  of  a  bird's  alimentary  canal  lying  be- 
tween the  cro])  and  the  gizzard.  Often  called  the 
stomach. 

Puucliform  hciiiorrliagrs.  Presenting  the  appearance  as  if  punctured 
by  a  large  number  of  fine  prickle  or  needle  holes 
from  whi;-h  the  blood  oozes. 

Purgative. — Causing  evacuations  cf  the  bowels. 

Pyaemia. — Blood  poison  due  to  microbic  origin. 

Sarcoma.— A  kind  of  tumor  or  cancer  not  always  of  a  malignant  nature. 

Scabies. — A  contagious  skin  disease  cavsed  by  a  mite. 

5f/i'/o//c-.— Pertaining  to  the  hard  white  tibrous  membrane  which  with 
cornea  forms  the  outermost  coats  of  the  eyeball. 

5rrH;;;.— The  clear  lirp.nd  which  separates  from  the  clot  and  the  corpus- 
cles in  the  clotting  of  blood.  '■■ 

Spleen. — An  oval  shaped  organ  normally  about  one-half  inch  in  diameter 
and  of  a  dark  red  color.  It  lies  iir.meoictely  above 
the.  liver  and  between  that  and  the  proventricv.Uis. 

Spore. — The  reproductive  cell  of  many  protozoa  and  of  i^^any  lower 
plants.  It  is  usually  enclosed  in  tough  menihranes 
and  is  difficult  to  kill. 

Stigma. — See  p.  157- 

Subcutaneous.^— Bei^esth   the    skin. 

Sub-mucosa. — The  layer  of  tissue  situated  beneath  the  mucous  mem- 
brane. 

Syncope  (sin-ko-pe). — Fainting.     Failure  of  the  heart's   action. 

Trachea. — The  wind-pipe. 

Traumatic. — Caused   by  an  injury. 

Therapeutic. — Pertaining  to  the  art  and  science  of  healing. 

Urate. — A  salt  of  uric  acid.  A  product  of  the  secretion  of  the  kid- 
neys.    The  white  part  of  a  fowl's  droppings. 

Ureters. — The  tubes  leading  from  the  kidneys  to  the  cloaca. 

Uterus. — See  p.  158. 

Vagina. — That  portion  of  the  nvidnct  between  the  shell  gland  and  the 
cloaca. 

Virulent. — Extremely  poisonous  or   dangerous. 

Virus. — .\ny  animal  poison,  especially  one  produced  by  an  1  capable  of 
transmitting  a  disease. 

Viscera. — The   internal   organs  of  the  bod^^ 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Abdomen,  baggy   3° 

liquid   in    "3 

Abdominal    dropsy    "3 

Abnormal   eggs    ^75 

Abortion  of  eggs    164 

Abscess     -°2 

Acariiia    ^32 

Air    14 

Air  sacs   ^^ 

Air-sac  mite   ^1° 

Alimentary   tract    32 

Amoeba   meleagridis    ^3 

Anaesthetizing    poultry    203 

Anatomy  of  reproductive  organs    I55 

respiratory  organs    85 

Apoplexy     118 

Apothecaries'  weights  and  measures   31 

Arsenic  as  poison   44 

Articular  gout   121 

Ascites    73 

Aspergillosis     53. 104 

in   chicks    I93 

Atrophy    of    liver     52 

ovary    160 

Autopsy    24 

Bacillary  white  diarrhea    186 

Bacillus  tuberculosis    58 

Baldness     14" 

"Bed  bug"  of  poultry   I4S 

Bichloride  of  mercury    29 

Blackhead 53 

Blood,  diseases  of    114 

Blood  vessels,  rupture  of    113 

Bloody   diarrhea    40,  44,  51,  79 

Bloody  spots  in  eggs  1 77 

Body  mange   144 

Bones,  broken    203 


210  I'ULLTKV    DISKASKS    AND    TIIKIK    TRKATMENT. 

PAGE 

Books  on  poultry  diseases  2 

Brain    congestion    1 19 

hemorrhage  of    1 18 

postmortem  appearance  of 1 18 

Breaking  of  egg  in  oviduct 174 

"Break  down"    1 79 

Breeding,  for  health  and  vigor  6 

Broken  bones   203 

Bronchitis    88 

Bumblefoot     202 

Calomel    28 

Cancers    55.  163 

Canker     90,  103 

Castor   oil    28 

Carcinomatosis     55 

Catarrh     87, 90 

Catechu     28 

Cayenne    28 

Ceca,  post-mortem  appearance  of 186, 188 

Cercomoniasis    55 

Chicken  pox   150 

Chickens,   diseases   of 181 

Cholera     66 

Circulatory  system,  diseases  of 112 

Cleanliness    10 

Cloacitis      177 

Coccidia    53.  185 

Coccidiosis,    intestinal    183 

Coccidium,  life  history  of 185 

Cold     87 

Comb,  frozen    203 

white     147 

Congestion  of  lungs  107 

Constipation    37,  41,  42 

Constitution,  breeding  for 6 

Contagious    catarrh • .  90 

Convulsions     44. 45 

Copper  poisoning 44 

Cremation    20 

Cresol  disinfectant  12 

Crop,  enlarged 36 

impacted       32 

inflammation  of   34 

Cropping  poultry  ranges 18 

Croup    '. 88 

Cuts,  treatment  of 201 

Cxtoditcs    iiudns    IIO 


INDEX.  211 

PAGE 

Dampness    _■"' 

Dandelion,  for  liver  trouble ^^ 

Dead  birds,   disposal   of -° 

Depluming  scabies    '•^" 

J  icnnaiiyssiis    sallinac     '^^ 

Diagnosis  of  disease    ^^ 

Diarrbca     34,  40.  4-',  44.  45,  48.  67 

Diarrhea,  white    " 

Diphtheria     90 

Diphtheritic   roup    ^^^ 

Disinfection       '  ^ 

Dissection    of   bird "^ 

Distemper    °9 

Double  and  triple  yolked  eggs ^7" 

Dove  cote  bug   ^45 

Drcpaiiidfltaenia     "7 

Drinking  water    '" 

Droppings,   appearance   of   normal 3-"^ 

green     "7 

Dropsy    "3 

Dysentery     39 

Dyspepsia     4- 

Egg  bound    ^^^^ 

breaking  of  in  oviduct   '74 

laying,  physiology  of I59 

Eggs,   al)normal    ^~r< 

abortion   of    ''U 

double  and   triple  yolked 176 

inclusions  in   ^77 

misshapen     ^77,'^?^ 

small    ^76 

soft  shelled   '75 

spots   in    ^77 

yolkless     1 76 

Eiiiphysciiia     104 

Endocarditis    ' '  - 

Enlargement  of  heart 113 

liver    50 

Enteritis     3U 

Enterohepatitis,  infectious    53 

Epilepsy    1  '9 

F.pithelioma  contagiosum    150 

Epizootic    89 

Epsom   salts    28 

Ergot   as  poison    45 

Eversion  of  oviduct   167 

Exercise     20 


21 J  I'ori.rKV    DISKASKS   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

PAGE 

External    parasites    124 

Extractor,  gape  worm   200 

Eyes,   roup   of    94,  100 

Fatty  degeneration  of  liver 51 

Favus    147 

Feeding,  hygienic     1 5,  49 

Flea,  "hen"   145 

Flukes     83 

Follicle,  failure  to  rupture  165 

Formaldehyde   disinfection    12 

Frozen   comb    203 

Frozen    wattle    203 

Fungus     105 

Gangrene  of  oviduct   1 74 

Gapes    195 

Gastritis    36 

Gleet,   vent    177 

Glossary     205 

Goniodcs   dissi>iiilis    127 

Gout    56,  121 

articular     121 

visceral     121 

Green  droppings    67 

Green  food   16 

Grippe     89 

Harvest  bug  145 

Health,  breeding  for   6 

Health   type    7 

Heart,   enlargement  of 113 

post-mortem  appearance  of   68, 112, 113, 115, 121 

Heart  sac,  dropsy  of  112 

Hctcrakis   fyrrspicilltiin    83 

Housing 10 

Hygiene    8 

essentials  of    21 

Hypertrophy  of  liver   50 

yolk    164 

Inclusions  in  eggs    177 

Indigestion     42 

Infectious  entcrolicpatitis   53 

leukaemia    114 

Inflammation  of  mouth  102 

oviduct     165 

Influenza    89 

Inoculation   for  cholera    70 

Internal  parasites   75 

Intestinal  coccidiosis    183 


INDEX.  213 

PAGE 

Intestines     37 

post-mortem  appearance  of.  .40,  50,  62,  68,  79,  1 15,  121,  188,  194 

Jaundice     52 

Kidneys,   diseases  of    i-i 

•Kidneys,  post-mortem  appearance  of 68,  113,  121,  188 

Kiicinidocoptes  mutans   138 

Land    18 

Lead  as  poison  45 

Leg  weakness  • 192 

Leukaemia,    infectious     114 

Lice      125 

powder    130 

Life    history    of    coccidium     185 

Light     14 

Limbcrncck     123 

Lipeuriis  variabilis   127 

Litter     15 

Liver,  atrophy  of 52 

diseases    47 

enlargement  of   50 

fatty  degeneration  of 51 

hypertrophy  of    50 

post-mortem    appearance    of  40.  47,  49,  50,  51,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  61,  68, 

113,   IIS,   121,  188,  194 

Lungs    85 

congestion   of    107 

post-mortem    appearance    of 104,  108,  113,  116,  188,  194 

Lye  as  poison  44 

Male  reproductive  organs,  diseases  of 180 

Mallophaga    125 

Mange,   body    144 

Measures    31 

Medicines     28 

Menopon  pallidum    126 

Mercury,  bichloride  of 29 

Misshapen  eggs   177 

Mite,  air  sac  no 

Mites     132 

Monocercoinonas  gallinanini    55 

Mouth,  inflammation  of   102 

Mycosis  of  the  air  passages    104 

Myocarditis  diphtheritica   113 

Nervous  system,  diseases  of  118 

Nitrate  of  soda  as  poison    44 

Nits     128 

Nodular  taeniasis    78 

Obstruction  of  oviduct   169 

vent    41 


214  rOL-I.TKV    DISEASES    AND    TTTI-IK    TREATMENT. 

PAGE 

Ointment    3° 

Operation,    for   "egg   bound"    i/i 

impacted   drop    34 

Ovarian  tumors   ^"3 

Ovary,  atrophy  of    '"° 

diseases   of    '"^ 

gangrene   of    l"3 

post-mortem    appearance    of     160.161.162,163,164,163 

Overfeeding    1 5.  48 

Oviduct,   diseases   of    165 

gangrene   of    1/4 

inflammation    of     163 

obstruction    of    169 

prolapse   of    167 

rupture   of    ^73 

Pericarditis    ^i- 

Peritonitis    -- 

Permanganate,  potassium   16 

Phosphorus  as  poison    43 

Physiology  of  reproductive   organs    153 

respiratory  organs   <*^3 

Pip     102 

Pneumomycosis,   in   chicks    I93 

Pneumonia 10b 

Poisons     44 

Poisonous  plants   4^ 

Post  mortem  api)earance  of  brain 118 

ceca     186,  188 

heart     68,  112,  113.  113,  121 

intestines   .  ..40,  50,62,68,  79,  113,  121,  188,  194 

kidneys    68,  113,  121,  188 

liver   40,47,491056,61,68,  113,  115, 121, 

188,   194 

lungs   104,  108,   113,  116,  188,  194 

ovary    160  to  163 

spleen     40.61,  113.  121,  188 

Post-mortems,  how  to  make   24 

Potassium   permanganate    .' 16 

Poultry  surgery   201 

Powder,  lice   130 

Prevention  of  cholera   70 

disease     5 

Prolapse  of  oviduct   167 

Purity  of  blood   i 

Rotation,  crops  and  chickens  18 

Reproductive   organs,   anatomy   and   phj'siology   of 133 

diseases  of  i  ;; 


,T 


INDEX.  215 

PAGE 

Respiratory  system,  anatomy    85 

diseases   of    85 

Rheumatism    ^23 

Round   worms    82 

Roup    90 

Rule  of  treatment  5 

Rupture  of  blood   vessels    1 13 

heart    1 13 

oviduct    '^73 

Salt  as  poison    44 

Salts,  epsom    28 

Sanitation    8 

Sarcomatosis     55 

Sarcoptes   lacvis    142 

Scabies,  depluming  142 

Scaly  leg   I35 

Sickness,  isolation 21 

Skin,   diseases   of    I47 

Small   eggs    1/6 

Soft-shelled  eggs  I75 

Sore  head    150 

Spleen,    post-mortem    appearance   of 40,  61,  113,  121,  188 

Spots  in  eggs   I77 

Stock    tonic    43 

Stomach,  inflammation  of   36 

Strychnine     45 

Surgery,   poultry    201 

Syniplcctoptcs   cysticola    144 

Symptoms,  table  of    23 

Synga)iius  trachealis    196,  197 

Table  of  symptoms    23 

Tablets    29 

Taeniasis,   nodular    78 

Tainted  ground   19 

Tape  worms   76 

Tears,  treatment  of    201 

Thrush    103 

Tonic    43 

Tuberculosis    57,  100 

distribution  of  57 

Tumors     55.  93.  163 

Vent  gleet   177 

Vertigo     119 

Vigor,   breeding    for    6 

Visceral  gout   121 

Vomiting    35,  45 

Wasting  of  liver  52 


2l6  POULTRY   DISEASES   AND   THEIR   TREATMENT. 

PAGE 

Water,    drinking    j6 

Wattles,   frozen    203 

Weights    31 

Wliite  comb    '47 

White   (liarrliea    '81 

White   diarrliea,   baciilary    186 

White  (harrhea,  diagnosis  of   189 

prevention   of    192 

treatment  of    iQO 

Worms    75 

flukes     83 

round     82 

tape    7^ 

trematode     83 

\\'ounds,  treatment  of  201 

Voik  hypertrophy    164 

Yolkless  eggs  i  "6 

Zinc    poisoning    45 


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